as in full steam ahead
with all power or resources being used
I'll fight tooth and nail to win the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tooth and nail
The Cowboys had to fight tooth and nail to pull out the win against one of the worst teams in the NFL from a season ago.
—
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2025
Outer Range Rancher Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) fights tooth and nail to defend his land in Wyoming.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2025
Margaret, having married an older man expecting guidance, is instead forced to build her family’s future from the ground up, only to fight tooth and nail to preserve it after her husband nearly destroys them.
—Itzel Luna, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
In an entertainment landscape where studios are fighting tooth and nail for a rapidly diminishing slice of viewers’ attention, the rise of artificial intelligence represents a massive threat.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tooth and nail
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2025
Outer Range Rancher Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) fights tooth and nail to defend his land in Wyoming.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2025
Margaret, having married an older man expecting guidance, is instead forced to build her family’s future from the ground up, only to fight tooth and nail to preserve it after her husband nearly destroys them.
—Itzel Luna, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
In an entertainment landscape where studios are fighting tooth and nail for a rapidly diminishing slice of viewers’ attention, the rise of artificial intelligence represents a massive threat.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tooth and nail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tooth and nail
Adverb
-
The heft of the book—at more than six hundred pages, it is exhaustively researched and exhausting to read—reflects the writer’s convictions.—
Maggie Doherty,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Vaccine safety Federal health experts continuously monitor VAERS and other safety surveillance systems, exhaustively assessing the safety of vaccines.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
And to round it all out, Anna’s parents, Charlotte and Bob, would also be coming along for the occasion.—
Chris Dong,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Does Elsbeth figure it all out in delightful fashion, per usual?—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tooth and nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tooth%20and%20nail. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share