as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sharply
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hammer and tongs
Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 16 July 2024
The action on Nevarro is crisp and well-presented, highlighted by the Armorer taking out the sniper’s nest singlehandedly with only her hammer and tongs as weapons.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2023
The two conservative groups that brought the case were targeted by Harris in 2012-13, right around the time the IRS was going hammer and tongs after Tea Party groups.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2021
Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch.
—SI.com, 18 Sep. 2019
With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs.
—Washington Post, 18 July 2019
The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others.
—Jim Jones, idahostatesman, 18 May 2018
Adjective
In 1971, authors Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal went at it hammer and tongs live on late-night TV in a showdown that allegedly spilled over into violence.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 16 July 2024
The action on Nevarro is crisp and well-presented, highlighted by the Armorer taking out the sniper’s nest singlehandedly with only her hammer and tongs as weapons.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2023
The two conservative groups that brought the case were targeted by Harris in 2012-13, right around the time the IRS was going hammer and tongs after Tea Party groups.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2021
Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch.
—SI.com, 18 Sep. 2019
With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs.
—Washington Post, 18 July 2019
The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others.
—Jim Jones, idahostatesman, 18 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer and tongs
Adjective
-
Others, like Ghiath Dalla, a brigadier general whose forces were involved in violent repression of protests, is among several former officers plotting sabotage from Lebanon, according to ex-military commanders, who also shared text message exchanges with The Times.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Continue reading … FED UP – Trump storms most violent US city with federal muscle as police group warns of soft-on-crime consequences.—
,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
In the meantime, the words and actions of the administration have steered the Department of Homeland Security sharply away from its stated core values.—
Keith Wilson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
After hitting its record above $126,000 earlier this month, bitcoin has sold off sharply, with a weekly loss of over 8%, as of Friday morning, while gold and silver have continued to move up and remain on pace for weekly gains.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As previously announced, Andrew Garfield stars as the legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Andrew Garfield is leading the feature that is now in production, portraying the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Over the weekend, Hamas fighters also clashed violently with a prominent family in Gaza City.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
However, she was momentarily stopped when one concert goer grabbed her, violently yanking her backwards and into the barricade.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Israel then launched its war on the strip, which has been devastated by fierce bombardment and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operations.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Plenty of companies offer fully remote work, Frana says, but competition can be fierce for those roles.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The film offers a child-psychology tip for fiercely independent kids (like Beesha) about learning to accept help from others, plus some none-too-subtle critiques of lying leaders who sow division.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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The White Lotus and Too Much star will play the musical genius alongside Paul Bettany (WandaVision), as envious court composer Antonio Salieri, and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin) as Constanze Weber, Mozart’s fiercely loyal wife.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Robbie and Jayson have a furious battle, but Jayson sticks the fatal knife stab before fleeing.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Wilson was visibly furious, walking up to head coach Aaron Glenn and seemingly speaking his mind after a six-point first half for the Jets.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Israel vehemently denies the claims.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Johnson has vehemently denied that the Epstein files are influencing his scheduling decisions.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammer and tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer%20and%20tongs. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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