tug-of-war

noun

ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯr 

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

Synonyms of tug-of-war

• rivalry
• battle
• struggle
• competition
• duel
• warfare
• conflict
• confrontation
• war
• contention

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

House Speaker Mike Johnson reflects on the tug-of-war between the legislative and executive branches in an exclusive USA TODAY interview ahead of America's 250th anniversary. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026

With its genetic material segregated at either pole, one cell can safely become two, born from a microscopic tug-of-war. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026

So my creative directors came up with this concept where there’s, like, this really beautiful tug-of-war between me and the microphone cable. — Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026

In addition, the tug-of-war over the Strait of Hormuz will drag on. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tug-of-war

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore
• heretofore

Kids Definition

tug-of-war

noun

ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯ(ə)r

plural tugs-of-war

1

: a struggle to win

2

: a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope