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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tug-of-war
On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
—
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
This tug-of-war between buyers and sellers can't last forever.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Florida is throwing itself this week into the national tug-of-war over redistricting as Republicans aim to keep control of Congress.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
This tug-of-war between buyers and sellers can't last forever.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Florida is throwing itself this week into the national tug-of-war over redistricting as Republicans aim to keep control of Congress.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
-
Militant leaders have usually died as a result of internecine rivalry among competing groups or factions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
That’s the foundation of an all-time rivalry.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Decades-long legal battle The Supreme Court decision to overturn Glossip’s conviction and death sentence last year marked a major turning point in his decades-long legal battle.—
Linh Tran,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
But the frenzied redistricting battle of the past few months — including a congressional map in his home state thrown out by a court after people voted to approve it, and certain elections postponed in Louisiana and Alabama after mail ballots already went out — has done it.—
Miles Parks,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In vitro fertilization is a medical procedure that can be used to address several infertility struggles.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
Jarrett Allen, much maligned for past playoff struggles, dominated the Pistons with 23 points, seven rebounds, completely outmatching Detroit’s Jalen Duren.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The Browns are expected to hold a quarterback competition in training camp among Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel, with rookie Taylen Green selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Critics portray the movement as politically motivated, but many athletes and parents involved insist their concerns center on competition rather than ideology.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Greene later raced toward the line and made a sliding grab on a foul ball, preserving the scoreless duel as neither offense could break through early.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
-
That means another duel between arguably the two best quarterbacks in the NFL in Mahomes and Allen.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
At a certain point, the distinction between celebrity nonsense and geopolitical information warfare breaks down.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
The platform can incorporate a range of payloads (including third party modules) enabling mission versatility across Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, decoy and strike roles.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The data shows that since the Middle East conflict erupted at the end of February, global jet fuel prices have surged rapidly.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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With the end of the Middle East conflict nowhere in sight and the average cost of California gasoline more than $6 per gallon, a road trip is probably the last thing Californians want to do right now.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
As the confrontation escalated, the man can be seen in the video taking his glasses off and becoming physically aggressive toward two of the crew members.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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Some candidate narratives also push back on the article’s suggestion that voters have little appetite for ideological confrontation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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