tugboat
3 synonyms for tugboat, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, powerful boat used to tow or push larger ships, especially in harbours.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tugboat
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tugboat captain
tugboat crew
Etymology
A compound of tug + boat, describing a small vessel built to tug — that is, tow — much larger ones.
Full origin of tugboat →Frequently asked questions
What does “tugboat” mean?
The word “tugboat” means a small, powerful boat used to tow or push larger ships, especially in harbours. In plain terms, a small but powerful boat that pushes or pulls larger ships in and out of port.
How do you pronounce “tugboat”?
“Tugboat” is pronounced TUHG-boht (/ˈtʌɡboʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tugboat” in a sentence?
Here is “tugboat” used in a sentence: “A tugboat nudged the cargo ship gently against the dock.”
What part of speech is “tugboat”?
“Tugboat” is a noun.
