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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of knock-down, drag-out
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
What follows is a knock-down, drag-out brawl reminiscent of Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
This was a knock-down, drag-out fight — the kind of match that would make for excellent watching when Marvel Snap tournaments are up and running.
—Ash Parrish, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2023
Last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight could just be the first of many this session as GOP lawmakers grapple with government spending, the debt ceiling and the situation at the border.
—Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023
But both performers rode their SNL success to Hollywood superstardom, in turn validating the audience's appetite for inspired silliness and knock-down, drag-out belly-laughs.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2022
As much as the streaming wars can feel like a knock-down, drag-out fight, Amazon can spend time on the ropes because streaming isn’t its core business.
—Angela Watercutter, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022
But rather than a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish, this series is all about empowerment.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2022
However, leaping in expecting an argument to become a knock-down, drag-out fight isn't the best way to go about your life.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 9 Feb. 2022
Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
What follows is a knock-down, drag-out brawl reminiscent of Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
This was a knock-down, drag-out fight — the kind of match that would make for excellent watching when Marvel Snap tournaments are up and running.
—Ash Parrish, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2023
Last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight could just be the first of many this session as GOP lawmakers grapple with government spending, the debt ceiling and the situation at the border.
—Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023
But both performers rode their SNL success to Hollywood superstardom, in turn validating the audience's appetite for inspired silliness and knock-down, drag-out belly-laughs.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2022
As much as the streaming wars can feel like a knock-down, drag-out fight, Amazon can spend time on the ropes because streaming isn’t its core business.
—Angela Watercutter, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022
But rather than a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish, this series is all about empowerment.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2022
However, leaping in expecting an argument to become a knock-down, drag-out fight isn't the best way to go about your life.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 9 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock-down, drag-out
Adjective
-
Although the heat has everyone dealing with some degree of dampness, sweating is often a source of violent embarrassment for you.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Ferrari, once Mercedes’ fiercest F1 rival before Red Bull took over in that role at the start of the 2020s, threatened to crash the party once the lights went out.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But the spring battles for starting jobs look fierce; Warren Roberson, Kade Phillips, Kobe Black and Wardell Mack join Mascoe as cornerbacks that could make a claim on a starting job while safeties Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Zelus Hicks each could use a strong spring to make their case.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Knicks did a lot right in their first matchup of the year against the defending champs, from their defense on Gilgeous-Alexander to a trademark second half rally ushering in ferocious third- and fourth-quarter runs to bring the victory within arm’s distance.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His journey introduces him to ferocious beasts, a strange and wondrous land, and the beginnings of an unforgettable friendship.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Lady Tigers dominated the title game with a furious pace, forcing 14 Westlake turnovers, and left with a 51-37 victory at the Alamodome.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Labuschagne’s goal highlighted a furious opening to the match.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With this goal in mind, this unusually turbulent moment may be the perfect time for family offices to make sure their plans still make sense and position them well for the next century.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The leadership change comes at a turbulent moment for the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves more than 540,000 students.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chong would give them a rough idea of his thoughts, which the artists would then use to develop dialogue and other details that expanded on his vision.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
All that human saliva and mucus, absorbed and dried into a rough crust.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Seismic and volcanic status Echinus’ return to activity coincides with the late-February eruption of the nearby Streamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Schrodinger basin, a large impact crater near the moon’s south pole, shows evidence of geologically recent volcanic activity.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As one of the stars of gay hockey smut — sorry, show — Heated Rivalry, Storrie’s overnight catapult into the spotlight has bestowed upon him a rabid fanbase of horny women.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Here is a president who promised a time of peace and yet whose rabid personal ambitions have stoked one destabilizing global conflict after another, the new one being the riskiest of them all.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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 10 Mar. 2026.
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