HAMMER AND TONGS Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

hammer-and-tongs 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hammer-and-tongs

as in violent

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hammer and tongs

2 of 2

adverb

as in sharply

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hammer-and-tongs

Adverb

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

The stunts included burnouts in the middle of the intersection, which resulted in a violent collision with two of the bystanders.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.

— Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of violent

Adverb

As the gunfire was heard, the drone appeared to veer sharply before diving toward the beach.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Polling shows that many younger voters, especially independents, progressive Democrats and some Republicans, have turned sharply against Israel in recent years amid widespread debate over Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharply

Adjective

To the world, McRae is a strong, fearless entertainer, a triple threat who can pen songs that recall the fizzy pop of the early aughts and bring them to life as a ferocious singer and dancer.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
In 1970, Milton Friedman’s ferocious political essay in the New York Times, and the agency-theorizing that followed provided sufficient intellectual justification.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adverb

Many in Silicon Valley—like Kokotajlo—fear AI progress is about to accelerate violently.

— Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
When his business is violently robbed, and one of his own is killed, Rodney embarks on a reckless quest for revenge that threatens to engulf the entire Clarke family.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of violently

Adverb

Figures such as Assemblyman Carl DeMaio from San Diego County, an aggressive fiscal hawk who excels at dominating conservative media and raising grassroots funds, command a fiercely loyal base.

— Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Best known for playing the flawed but fiercely loyal Fiona Gallagher on the Showtime dramedy Shameless, Rossum has always gravitated towards imperfect heroines.

— Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of fiercely

Adjective

Above a certain temperature, the system starts to work against itself; the furious beating of cilia uses up any oxygen the coral’s tissues can absorb, and then the polyps can suffocate in the less oxygenated water.

— Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
This Lusitania didn’t sink as a formal band played, but the ticking of each man’s pocket watch synchronized to form a furious percussion section, and all those wailing women’s voices layered into girl-group harmonies.

— Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of furious

Adverb

While its author, a 25-year-old Nigerian named Jerry Falade, also vehemently denies using AI, in his case nobody seems to believe him — especially after Publishers Lunch ran his manuscript through a detector and got a 97 percent AI score.

— Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Madix vehemently denies sharing them with anyone other than Leviss.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of vehemently

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hammer-and-tongs

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“Hammer-and-tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer-and-tongs. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hammer-and-tongs

adjective

adverb

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