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
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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
-
Brown is particularly known for his roles in violent abolitionist efforts in the Pottawatamie Massacre and the raid on Harpers Ferry, a federal arsenal in West Virginia.—
Christopher Tremoglie,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The 2024 election campaign was Mexico’s most violent in modern history, with more than three dozen candidates assassinated and many others dropping out over threats to their safety.—
Daniel DePetris,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Kipling and their unknown—but similarly, sharply dressed—third followed in Priestly’s slipstream, as other guests digested the full splendor of her arrival.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Her performance in the office has earned her the endorsement of both Stone and local unions — who often sharply disagreed.—
Mercury News Editorial,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But now Minnesota has another veteran QB in Carson Wentz to pair with its ferocious defense.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
-
There have been fewer, but more ferocious hurricanes.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Videos shared across social media sites purported to show the quakes violently shaking stores and homes as people rushed for cover.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Some Los Angeles activists violently protested ICE enforcement earlier this year.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The global war for tech talent, especially AI talent, is already fierce, with some of the biggest companies offering all-star athlete-level salaries for the most desirable candidates, leaving startups struggling to recruit and hold onto talented staff.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
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In mythology, Mars is the god of war, known for its fierce and combative nature, and this is no exception in astrology.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Some Democrats who back Mamdani have been fiercely critical of party leaders who've stayed on the sidelines.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Michelle was 16, entering her junior year at Lakewood High, a fiercely competitive swimmer with a wicked sense of humor.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Substack’s leaderboard filled with anti-Trump voices furious over the silencing of the mainstream media.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Hong Kong — The sight of a multi-colored fireworks exploding in the foothills of the Himalayas has sparked a furious environmental backlash, prompting a local government investigation in China and forcing global outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx to issue an apology.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Schiff vehemently denies anything improper.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Trump has vehemently denied writing the message and is now suing the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its initial report about the letter.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammer and tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer%20and%20tongs. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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