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

A week after Abdul El-Sayed's razor-thin win in a Michigan Senate primary, Wisconsin voters are joining the Democratic tug-of-war between the liberal establishment and populist outsiders over the party's direction. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

The TikTok sale followed a yearlong tug-of-war over US national security concerns raised by the app’s Chinese connections. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

At Montauk Yacht Club, where the docks became home to Camp FFF for a couple of days, entrepreneurs traded war stories over panels, games of tug-of-war and dinners curated by chef-in-residence Alison Roman. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026

These results are fueling a tug-of-war between two sides — over who gets to control the party's message and priorities ahead of the midterm elections. — August 5, NPR, 5 Aug. 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