tug-of-war
noun
plural tugs-of-war
1
: a struggle for supremacy or control usually involving two antagonists
2
: a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope with the object of pulling the middle of the rope over a mark on the ground
Examples of tug-of-war in a Sentence
the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war
Recent Examples on the Web
This rhetorical tug-of-war unfolded while many cities across the country grappled with spiking crime rates during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—
Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
The administration on Wednesday moved to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, continuing the president’s tug-of-war with the school.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
In the perpetual tug-of-war between California state government and the counties, the state has to set standards and provide support like data collection, and at least some funding, if the counties are to exercise the independence and creativity that is expected of them.
—Robert Greene, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Luigi is caught in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors, except the trophy is a young man's life.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
The administration on Wednesday moved to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, continuing the president’s tug-of-war with the school.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
In the perpetual tug-of-war between California state government and the counties, the state has to set standards and provide support like data collection, and at least some funding, if the counties are to exercise the independence and creativity that is expected of them.
—Robert Greene, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Luigi is caught in a high-stakes game of tug-of-war between state and federal prosecutors, except the trophy is a young man's life.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug-of-war. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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