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
-
While Memphis has seen high numbers of violent crimes such as homicides and carjackings in recent years, Democratic and Republican officials have noted decreases this year in some crime categories.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Even so, to take on one of the most famous women in history — and through a lens so bloody and violent — is a mighty tall order.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 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 bond between the two men was at the center of a fierce political conflict that spread in Washington, San Salvador and Miami.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And Kailey Agpaoa is goofy and funny as Doctor Sister, a self-sacrificing but fierce young woman who has given up her dreams to care of her aging parents while her older sister has a husband and medical career.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Harrison pops in and out of these different iterations of the characters seamlessly, dropping Midlands slang in his baby blue trackies one moment and then fiercely fighting back tears the next.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Then to collaborate with passionate and fiercely dedicated writer-director Talia Lugacy, was a dream come true.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
After reviewing those court records, anyone with an ounce of humanity would come away furious at the criminal cover-up perpetrated against innocent young children by priests.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
-
After going down 26-7 in the third quarter, the Eagles mounted a furious comeback at Lincoln Financial Field.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 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 2 Oct. 2025.
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