Synonyms of hammer-and-tongs

hammer-and-tongs 1 of 2

adjective

as in violent

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity

the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• violent
• ferocious
• fierce
• furious
• turbulent
• rough
• volcanic
• rabid
• vicious
• explosive
• hot
• knock-down, drag-out
• brutal
• cyclonic
• paroxysmal
• convulsive
• tumultuous
• aggressive
• stormy
• volatile
• tempestuous
• bang-bang
• blood-and-guts
• savage
• hostile
• contentious
• antagonistic
• destructive
• mad
• pugnacious
• barbarous
• assertive
• belligerent
• frantic
• bellicose
• combative
• quarrelsome
• combustible
• truculent
• gladiatorial
• cataclysmal
• agitated
• ruinous
• frenzied

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• nonviolent
• peaceable
• calm
• tranquil
• serene
• pacific
• halcyon
• unaggressive
• nonbelligerent

hammer and tongs

2 of 2

adverb

as in sharply

Related Words

• sharply
• violently
• fiercely
• vehemently
• forcibly
• robustly
• firmly
• strongly
• forcefully
• vigorously
• powerfully
• sturdily
• dynamically
• explosively
• stoutly
• energetically
• stiffly
• roughshod
• actively
• spunkily
• strenuously
• roundly
• crisply
• hard
• briskly
• lustily
• eagerly
• surely
• heartily
• emphatically
• mightily
• solidly
• animatedly
• fast
• rigidly
• muscularly
• gamely
• fixedly
• intensively
• steadfastly
• determinedly
• resolutely
• purposefully
• soundly
• smartly
• squarely
• intently
• steadily
• aggressively
• vivaciously
• decidedly
• directly
• spiritedly
• assertively
• manfully
• potently
• snappily

Dissimilar Words

• weakly
• gently
• softly
• feebly
• faintly
• delicately
• shakily
• lazily
• languidly
• listlessly
• halfheartedly
• frailly
• spiritlessly
• lamely
• ineffectively
• uncertainly
• ineffectually
• impotently
• bloodlessly
• nervelessly
• spinelessly

Example Sentences

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