thrust

/θrəst/

/θrəst/

Other forms: thrusting; thrusts; thrusted

To thrust is to push forward quickly and forcibly, like the way a pirate would plunge or thrust a sword into his enemy.

Thrust is often used when you're talking about knives or swords or jabbing someone with something. In fact, a thrust refers to a sharp blow or stab. Violence aside, thrust can be any kind of forceful push or driving force. Aggressive street vendors thrust their wares on you and young movie stars are thrust into the limelight at an early age — which may be disconcerting, but certainly is not as frightening a knife thrust in your direction.

Definitions of thrust

1. verb

   push forcefully
   “He thrust his chin forward”

   types:

   dig, jab, poke, prod, stab

   poke or thrust abruptly

   jab, stab

   stab or pierce

   shoulder

   push with the shoulders

   boost

   push or shove upward, as if from below or behind

   drive, force, ram

   force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically

   pound, ram, ram down

   strike or drive against with a heavy impact

   punch

   drive forcibly as if by a punch

   dig

   thrust down or into

   goad, prick

   stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick

   toe, toenail

   drive obliquely

   type of:

   force, push

   move with force
2. verb

   press or force
   “She thrust the letter into his hand”

   synonyms: shove, squeeze, stuff

   type of:

   force, push

   move with force
3. verb

   make a thrusting forward movement
   synonyms: hurl, hurtle, lunge

   types:

   dart

   move with sudden speed

   riposte

   make a return thrust

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
4. verb

   penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
   synonyms: pierce

   types:

   stick

   pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed

   stick

   pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument

   peg

   pierce with a wooden pin or knock or thrust a wooden pin into

   center punch

   make a small hole in something as a guide for a drill

   empale, impale, spike, transfix

   pierce with a sharp stake or point

   horn, tusk

   stab or pierce with a horn or tusk

   gore

   wound by piercing with a sharp or penetrating object or instrument

   lance

   pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight

   pin

   pierce with a pin

   spear

   pierce with a spear

   type of:

   penetrate, perforate

   pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
5. verb

   place or put with great energy
   “thrust the money in the hands of the beggar”

   synonyms: throw

   types:

   pop

   put or thrust suddenly and forcefully

   type of:

   lay, place, pose, position, put, set

   put into a certain place or abstract location
6. noun

   the force used in pushing
   “the thrust of the jet engines”

   synonyms: push

   type of:

   force

   (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity
7. noun

   the act of applying force to propel something
   synonyms: drive, driving force

   types:

   firewall

   (colloquial) the application of maximum thrust

   impetus, impulse, impulsion

   the act of applying force suddenly

   type of:

   actuation, propulsion

   the act of propelling
8. noun

   a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument
   synonyms: knife thrust, stab

   types:

   lunge, passado, straight thrust

   (fencing) an attacking thrust made with one foot forward and the back leg straight and with the sword arm outstretched forward

   remise

   (fencing) a second thrust made on the same lunge (as when your opponent fails to riposte)

   type of:

   blow, buffet

   a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
9. noun

   a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
   synonyms: jab, jabbing, poke, poking, thrusting

   type of:

   gesture

   motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
10. verb

    push upward
    “The front of the trains that had collided head-on thrust up into the air”

    synonyms: push up

    type of:

    jut, jut out, project, protrude, stick out

    extend out or project in space
11. verb

    force (molten rock) into pre-existing rock
    synonyms:

    push up

    push upward
12. verb

    impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably
    synonyms: force

    types:

    stick, sting

    saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous

    type of:

    compel, obligate, oblige

    force somebody to do something
13. noun

    verbal criticism
    “he enlivened his editorials with barbed thrusts at politicians”

    type of:

    criticism, unfavorable judgment

    disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings