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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as in sharply
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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
The Reds went hammer and tongs in their efforts to find a second, though their hosts were able to hold off the onslaught until the final 10 minutes of the clash.
—SI.com, 15 Aug. 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
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
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
The Reds went hammer and tongs in their efforts to find a second, though their hosts were able to hold off the onslaught until the final 10 minutes of the clash.
—SI.com, 15 Aug. 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
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
-
Combs apologized for his violent behavior soon after the video's release.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
-
For that reason, Torres-Chirinos is also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of possession of a firearm by an unlawful alien.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
The crisis is in plain view and the wind is ferocious.—
Mark A. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
His Hozier cover was at turns strategic and nuanced, then unleashed and ferocious.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
-
Johnson’s selection came over the fierce opposition of some of the school’s staunchest supporters, who celebrate FAMU’s legacy of Black excellence, social mobility and cultural pride.—
Kate Payne,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
Adverb
-
The Virginia congressman fiercely defended government workers in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election as the Administration sought to cut federal funding and employees.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
21 May 2025
-
After Russia claimed to have retaken control of Kursk in April, Kyiv insisted its troops are fiercely battling to preserve their foothold in the territory.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
-
But even with a better offensive night for Jerome, he was still beaten off the dribble too many times and couldn’t stay on the court for that last, furious push.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
Keep in mind, substantial wealth can be created in the market by those who maintain a composed and strategic approach during turbulent times.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
The stakes are high, as the visits take place amid turbulent geopolitical tensions.—
Natasha Turak,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
However, there are some plants that are less appealing to animals, such as those with pungent scents, fuzzy leaves, prickly or rough foliage, or a bitter taste.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
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Its new pricing could be an effort to attract American car buyers after rough Q1.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
Hundreds of times more intense and brighter than those seen on Earth, they're caused both by high-energy particles from the sun but also from Jupiter's moon, Io — the most volcanic body in the solar system.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Other sites may hold clues about volcanic activity on the Moon or the solar system’s early history.—
Zhenbo Wang,
The Conversation,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammer-and-tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer-and-tongs. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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