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 heat triggers a molecular tug-of-war.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
Your disciplined patience turns this tug-of-war into structure by setting expectations early, delegating tasks where possible, and finishing the key task that moves results the most.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The ensuing tug-of-war is driven by Karl’s second wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), another story accelerant in the guise of a person.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 May 2026
Interview with James Talarico The 10 or so months between the announcement of Colbert's cancellation and the actual finale have been a fascinating game of tug-of-war between the comedian and the higher powers at CBS.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
Your disciplined patience turns this tug-of-war into structure by setting expectations early, delegating tasks where possible, and finishing the key task that moves results the most.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The ensuing tug-of-war is driven by Karl’s second wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), another story accelerant in the guise of a person.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 May 2026
Interview with James Talarico The 10 or so months between the announcement of Colbert's cancellation and the actual finale have been a fascinating game of tug-of-war between the comedian and the higher powers at CBS.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026
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 1 Jun. 2026.
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