hammer-and-tongs 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hammer-and-tongsnext
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

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
  1. violent
  2. sharply
  3. ferocious
  4. violently
  5. fierce
  6. fiercely
  7. furious
  8. vehemently
Adjective
  • The teen also faces an allegation of having a prior conviction for a violent offense, which qualifies as a strike under California law.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Bass attempted to reverse her fortunes by touting her administration’s progress in reducing violent crime, fast-tracking affordable housing and bringing down unsheltered homelessness — the number of people living outside and in their cars — by 11%.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of violent
Adverb
  • Many have staked out sharply different visions for Chicago Public Schools, its billion-dollar budget and 300,0000 students.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • With buyback volume contracting sharply, this mechanical support for earnings per share wanes, requiring companies to rely on actual profit expansion to drive per share earnings higher.
    — , CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of sharply
Adjective
  • The rising, warming sea and ferocious winter storms have battered the road.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • One of the most celebrated objects from the India Museum is a mechanical wooden sculpture of a ferocious tiger gnawing at a British soldier’s throat.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adverb
  • Those marks can show whether the elevator was violently torn away or had an earlier weakness, such as metal fatigue.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • During the altercation, one of the suspects pulled out a weapon, and two of the victims were violently assaulted, police said.
    — Senior Editor, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of violently
Adjective
  • But many others are unpopular and have faced fierce opposition.
    — Joe Heim, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The once-fierce rivalry, which accounted for five Stanley Cup titles from 1996-2002, has cooled significantly since Detroit moved to the Eastern Conference and the teams have not been competitive at the same time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adverb
  • The easy chemistry translates into the competition itself, where Levine notes that the four coaches are all fiercely competitive, but without the kind of animosity that can sometimes come with fighting over artists.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Greg’s colleagues from over the years describe him as fiercely competitive, not just with work projects but also with hobbies like running and weight lifting.
    — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fiercely
Adjective
  • The Democratic Socialists of America sparked furious outrage after tapping controversial Twitch star Hasan Piker to anchor their election night broadcast.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Exasperated and furious over their inaction, Heumann and a group of disability activists staged a sit-in at the San Francisco Health, Education and Welfare federal building on Apr 5, 1977.
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of furious
Adverb
  • Six women allege offenses dating from 1999 to 2009, and Brand denies the allegations vehemently.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Yet after the Italian press caught wind of a meeting about a week ago between him and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, the latter vehemently denied Napoli was for sale.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of vehemently

Browse Nearby Words

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hammer-and-tongs
hammer and tongs
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Cite this Entry

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

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