variants
or knock-down-and-drag-out
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the football game was a knock-down, drag-out battle between bitter rivals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock-down, drag-out
But its industry titans are also locked in a knock-down, drag-out fight for market share, with brutal price wars and competition in a crowded home market deflating profits and stymieing growth.
—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
The meeting of a pair of programs on the rise was a knock-down, drag-out affair that appeared to have no end in sight.
—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
That means the knock-down, drag-out government shutdown battles that have become a Washington ritual are, in effect, a fight over a little more than a quarter of the federal ledger.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
The meeting of a pair of programs on the rise was a knock-down, drag-out affair that appeared to have no end in sight.
—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock-down, drag-out
Adjective
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, writes about violent weather, climate change and other news.
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English soccer fans have earned a reputation for violent hooliganism, hurling plastic chairs and brawling their way across the piazzas and boulevards of Europe.
Adjective
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The 2023 arrest of her then-10-year-old cousin for urinating in public brought fierce condemnation.
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For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Adjective
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Speaking of, Ross asked Janssen about the steamy bathhouse scene during which Xenia and Bond face off in an encounter that is both flirty and ferocious.
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In 2018, a blaze east of Athens moved with ferocious speed, killing more than 100 people.
Adjective
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The Kang Kon was unveiled a month after the Choe Hyon in May 2025, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim.
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Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.
Adjective
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Weaker global markets, which have impacted tech stock valuations, and the turbulent performance of SpaceX’s recent massive IPO were among the top concerns cited by insiders who have made the case that patience is a virtue.
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His confirmation closes one of the most turbulent presidential searches in UF history.
Adjective
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Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
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Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
Adjective
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Schrodinger basin, a large impact crater near the moon’s south pole, shows evidence of geologically recent volcanic activity.
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Alpha Estate Greek wine travel is often associated with the sea, whether through the volcanic cliffs of the islands or tavernas along the coast.
Adjective
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San Joaquin County is seeing a rise in rabid bats, but public health officials said not to worry.
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The moment Rekha moves to task 9, the tone shifts into rabid competition mode.
Cite this Entry
“Knock-down, drag-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock-down%2C%20drag-out. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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