tug

a sudden abrupt pull

a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships

carry with difficulty

strive and make an effort to reach a goal

“She tugged for years to make a decent living”

move by pulling hard

“The horse finally tugged the cart out of the mud”

pull hard

“The prisoner tugged at the chains”

pull or strain hard at

“Each oar was tugged by several men”

struggle in opposition

“She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts”

tow (a vessel) with a tug

“The tugboat tugged the freighter into the harbor”