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Added 9 October 2026

wrench

/ˈɹɛnt͡ʃ/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wrench at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
An injury caused by a violent twisting or pulling of a limb; strain, sprain.
A trick or artifice.

verb

To pull or twist violently.
With a surge of adrenaline, she wrenched the car door off and pulled out the injured man.
To injure (a joint) by pulling or twisting.
Be careful not to wrench your ankle walking along those loose stones!
To distort the original meaning of; to misrepresent.

Origin

From Middle English wrench, from Old English wrenċ, from Proto-Germanic *wrankiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wreng- (“to turn”). Compare German Rank (“plot, intrigue”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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