tug-of-war

noun

ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯr How to pronounce tug-of-war (audio)
Definition of tug-of-warnext
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tug-of-war Both the Russian and Chinese governments have been compromising routers for years, sometimes in prolonged tugs-of-war to wrest control of devices the other has already commandeered. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 During the Second Industrial Revolution, abundant coal under those hills ignited a tug-of-war between Germany and France. — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 House Speaker Mike Johnson reflects on the tug-of-war between the legislative and executive branches in an exclusive USA TODAY interview ahead of America's 250th anniversary. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026 With its genetic material segregated at either pole, one cell can safely become two, born from a microscopic tug-of-war. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
  1. rivalry
  2. battle
  3. struggle
  4. competition
  5. duel
  6. warfare
  7. conflict
  8. confrontation
Noun
  • Set in Texas Hill Country, the modern Western follows interconnected families and their rivalries and romances.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The teams faced each other in back-to-back postseasons in 2018 and 2019, with the rivalry peaking during a seven-game series in 2019.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • If someone pushes back, resist turning it into a battle for dominance.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
  • Baela rides the small, but still battle-ready (in the show) Moondancer.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Strickland said weather and development have been the farm’s biggest struggles.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
  • While much has been a struggle for the Jays this year, Cease’s first season in Toronto has been nothing but brilliance.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • That tournament in the past had taken place near the end of the tennis competition, with entrants somewhat dependent on who made it to the latter stages of the singles event or who was willing to stick around.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The states alleged in their lawsuit that the acquisition will substantially throttle competition in wide-release and top-grossing theatrical distribution and cable licensing in violation of antitrust laws.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of competition
Noun
  • Physicality is an important aspect in winning such duels, but Stones’ timing is often impeccable in the crucial moments.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • In some fuzzy plotting, that negotation will hinge on a duel between the star players of both sides.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of duel
Noun
  • Without Fedorov in charge of the ministry of defense, Ukraine’s revolution in warfare will lose its standard-bearer and a lot of its momentum—just when those innovations appeared to be paying off.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Traditional anti-submarine warfare tools are not optimized for small, slow, quiet autonomous vehicles.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of warfare
Noun
  • The Iranian military fired six missiles on Jordan today, according to the Jordan Armed Forces, as the regional conflict expands.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Lario stressed that hunger and conflict often reinforce one another, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without greater stability.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • Now his sons, who were with him during the confrontation, won’t ride with him anymore.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 July 2026
  • Russia favors direct territorial annexation and confrontation, whereas China employs a subtle 'gray-zone' strategy, prioritizing practical control over formal annexation.
    — Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of confrontation

Browse Nearby Words

tugging
tug-of-war
tugs
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Cite this Entry

“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tug-of-war

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tug-of-war

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