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
Whether a genuine belief or a strategic alliance, Drake’s claim places him firmly in the heart of a cultural tug-of-war.
—
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 July 2025
Co-written with Brennen Leigh, the song captures the emotional tug-of-war of freeing oneself from a toxic romance.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 14 July 2025
You might feel caught in a tug-of-war between the demands of home and family (especially a parent) versus the demands of your career or your external world.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
The Dishonest Job Search shows that, despite the tug-of-war, both sides want the same thing: a hiring process based on honest information and real opportunities.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 July 2025
Co-written with Brennen Leigh, the song captures the emotional tug-of-war of freeing oneself from a toxic romance.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 14 July 2025
You might feel caught in a tug-of-war between the demands of home and family (especially a parent) versus the demands of your career or your external world.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
The Dishonest Job Search shows that, despite the tug-of-war, both sides want the same thing: a hiring process based on honest information and real opportunities.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 July 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 18 Jul. 2025.
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