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
The constant tug-of-war among the parties has driven concerns among ACP leadership that a concentration of terminal operators at the canal-adjacent ports would pose risks to the waterway’s neutrality.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025
The tug-of-war over space shuttle Discovery is becoming more volatile.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
For decades, America’s healthcare system has been caught in a tug-of-war between cost containment and patient care.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
This legal tug-of-war underscores the importance of Denver’s decision.
—Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025
The tug-of-war over space shuttle Discovery is becoming more volatile.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
For decades, America’s healthcare system has been caught in a tug-of-war between cost containment and patient care.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
This legal tug-of-war underscores the importance of Denver’s decision.
—Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2025.
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