to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist: He wrenched the prisoner's wrist.
to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist: When she fell, she wrenched her ankle.
to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.
to wrest, as from the right use or meaning: to wrench the facts out of context.
verb (used without object)
to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside: He wrenched away.
to give a wrench or twist at something.
noun
a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist: With a quick wrench, she freed herself.
a painful, straining twist, as of the ankle or wrist.
a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.
a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.
a tool for gripping and turning or twisting the head of a bolt, a nut, a pipe, or the like, commonly consisting of a bar of metal with fixed or adjustable jaws.
Origin of wrench
before 1050; Middle English wrenchen (v.), Old English wrencan to twist, turn; cognate with German renken
SYNONYMS FOR wrench
4 distort, twist, warp.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR wrench ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM wrench
wrencher,nounwrench·ing·ly,adverboutwrench,verb (used with object)un·wrenched,adjective
Still, remdesivir is complicated to make and supplies are limited, so researchers are testing other drugs that might also throw wrenches into the coronavirus’s replication machinery.
New treatments aim to treat COVID-19 early, before it gets serious|Tina Hesman Saey|August 24, 2020|Science News
With a wrench thrown into traditional voting procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic, partisans on both sides of the aisle are already tossing around the possibility of a messy election—and perhaps one where one side contests the results.
Here’s what could happen to stock markets if the Trump-Biden election results are contested|Anne Sraders|August 18, 2020|Fortune
However, a wrench in the plan would be TikTok’s ad-supported business.
‘They got the memo’: Quibi changes tone, tact after failed debut|Tim Peterson|August 12, 2020|Digiday
Though it may not seem like it right now—Covid-19 has thrown a big wrench in all kinds of statistics regarding both the present and the future—human well-being has been on a steady upward trajectory for the past couple decades.
This Century Will See Massive Shifts in the Global Population, Economy, and Power Structure|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|July 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
To tune a piano, Mitchell uses a wrench to turn metal tuning pins attached to the strings.
Science isn’t just for scientists|Silke Schmidt|March 5, 2020|Science News For Students
Hillary Clinton, he argues, throws a wrench into the system.
The Most Annoying Myth in Politics|Jamelle Bouie|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now the government of President François Hollande is throwing a wrench into the American rush toward peace with Iran.
Why France Is to Blame for Blocking the Iran Nuclear Agreement|Christopher Dickey|November 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Factories were hiring anyone who could breathe and turn a wrench.
The Federal Government Should Hire the Long-Term Unemployed|Megan McArdle|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Should we see David Lee (Zach Grenier) as the wrench in the works at Lockhart & Associates?
‘The Good Wife’: Robert and Michelle King on Alicia, Kalinda, Renewal Prospects, and More|Jace Lacob|March 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Even one minor glitch and the machine could wrench itself out of his control.
Reno’s Reckless Air Tragedy|Clive Irving|September 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I'm saying it; Gerard cut him off from getting past, and he pitched a wrench that knocked him out.
From the Car Behind|Eleanor M. Ingram
The wear of the measuring screw and nut is taken up by screwing the bushing A into the frame with the wrench shown in Fig. 37.
Measuring Tools|Unknown
The moment my hand grasped the handle I leapt upon the little step and tried to wrench the door open.
A Master of Mysteries|L. T. Meade
"I am going down stairs, Mr. Desmond," she replied coldly, and trying to wrench her hand away.
Little Golden's Daughter|Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller
The incident revealed what a wrench the hearts and nerves of even the seamen had undergone.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann
British Dictionary definitions for wrench
wrench
/ (rɛntʃ) /
verb
to give (something) a sudden or violent twist or pull esp so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attachedto wrench a door off its hinges
(tr)to twist suddenly so as to sprain (a limb)to wrench one's ankle
(tr)to give pain to
(tr)to twist from the original meaning or purpose
(intr)to make a sudden twisting motion
noun
a forceful twist or pull
an injury to a limb, caused by twisting
sudden pain caused esp by parting
a parting that is difficult or painful to make
a distorting of the original meaning or purpose
a spanner, esp one with adjustable jawsSee also torque wrench
Word Origin for wrench
Old English wrencan; related to Old High German renken, Lithuanian rangyti to twist. See wrinkle1