as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tug-of-war
This simultaneously occurs with a Mercury-Pluto square, creating a tug-of-war between your self-expression and your sense of stability, or your romantic attractions and your core values.
—
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 May 2025
This tug-of-war to politically appropriate the pope was perhaps inevitable.
—Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025
When the moon suffered from a tug-of-war between Earth and the sun, the melting would have caused lunar rocks and zircons to melt and reform, providing a younger age that doesn't necessarily reflect when the moon itself was born.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 May 2025
In the annual tug-of-war over public spending across the sprawling San Diego County bureaucracy, public safety and social services trumped land-use planning, the environment and capital projects by $180 million in a draft budget released Thursday.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 May 2025
This tug-of-war to politically appropriate the pope was perhaps inevitable.
—Christopher Hale, Time, 9 May 2025
When the moon suffered from a tug-of-war between Earth and the sun, the melting would have caused lunar rocks and zircons to melt and reform, providing a younger age that doesn't necessarily reflect when the moon itself was born.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 May 2025
In the annual tug-of-war over public spending across the sprawling San Diego County bureaucracy, public safety and social services trumped land-use planning, the environment and capital projects by $180 million in a draft budget released Thursday.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
-
This is also a historic rivalry, so that's why so many people are tuning in.—
Ryan Stano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
-
How can the club improve its image around the world, where international fans are less concerned with local rivalries?—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
-
Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
Barry Keoghan is sharing something deeply personal about his struggle with sobriety.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
-
But that progress on paper does not mean the struggle is over.—
Danaya Wilson,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
The Diamond League was the premier series of competition in the sport for a long time and still holds that title due to its longevity and structure.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
Few trans athletes have reached elite levels of sports competition and even fewer have taken home top prizes, but their limited success has fueled the growing movement to ban them from participating on teams consistent with their gender identity.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The game had the look of a pitchers’ duel going into the ninth inning with first-place Philadelphia leading 1-0 thanks to a home run from Trea Turner leading off the game.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
24 May 2025
-
May departed with the Dodgers trailing 1-0 and was initially in line to be the hard-luck loser of a pitchers’ duel with Burnes, but Hernandez changed that with one swing.—
Kyle Glaser,
Oc Register,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
An increase in the drone supply—in addition to their effectiveness in combat operations—is reflective of a strategic adaptation by NATO to new forms of warfare that increasingly rely on unmanned systems.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
-
The immediate incentive for our nation to enter that war was the declaration by Germany of unrestricted submarine warfare.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
On April 10, tariffs on nearly all Chinese imports, including fireworks, climbed as high as 145% as a tit-for-tat trade conflict between China and the United States escalated.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
-
Instead of blaming or withdrawing, reconnect after hard moments and show your child that conflict doesn’t have to lead to shame or disconnection.—
Reem Raouda,
CNBC,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
After the tense confrontation, the expecting mom went on to refer to the villain arc fans observed from Engemann during season 2 of the hit show.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
22 May 2025
-
Manuel Vega Lopez, 51, died of gunshot wounds following a confrontation outside a Gilbert home shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 19, police said in a news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share