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
How to unsnarl the emotions that play tug-of-war with our souls?
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
So what do drivers actually want in this tug-of-war between cheap trucks and climate rules?
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
After the dust settled in a wild tug-of-war between Vanderbilt football and Georgia, Curtis committed to Vanderbilt on the eve of early signing day.
—Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Dec. 2025
China is among the parties interested in bidding to build new port terminals on each side of the Panama Canal, marking another potential flashpoint in the geopolitical tug-of-war surrounding the trade artery.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
So what do drivers actually want in this tug-of-war between cheap trucks and climate rules?
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
After the dust settled in a wild tug-of-war between Vanderbilt football and Georgia, Curtis committed to Vanderbilt on the eve of early signing day.
—Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Dec. 2025
China is among the parties interested in bidding to build new port terminals on each side of the Panama Canal, marking another potential flashpoint in the geopolitical tug-of-war surrounding the trade artery.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
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After sending the cheeseheads packing with the biggest playoff comeback in franchise history, Ben Johnson spiced up the rivalry with some salty language.—
Jori Parys,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
As interbranch rivalry morphed into systemic partisan competition, a judiciary dominated by Republican appointees began consolidating its authority at Congress’s expense.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This was not a rare occurrence at the university, where the presence of many students depended on the outcome of factional battles in their countries of origin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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In fact, filming the entire episode was quite the experience as the actress spent a lot of time arguing with herself as Maddie and Sara engaged in a battle of wills for control over the call center.—
Sabienna Bowman,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His struggles are hurting the Broncos in the biggest moments, too.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
This has created a growing, glowing, billion-dollar segment of the beauty market and fierce competition among purveyors of this radiant technology.—
Brennan Kilbane,
Allure,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nothing but bleeps ahead of Sunday's divisional duel with the Los Angeles Rams.—
Jori Parys,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The predictive duel for Best Picture The Globes are regarded by some as a frivolous event in which celebrities care less about the awards and more about the drinks at their tables.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By 1900, only a precious few Blackfeet had made it through the gantlet of smallpox, warfare, starvation, and Christianization.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Drone use is increasing in Africa across various sectors, including by the military for surveillance and warfare like in Sudan, but also for social services.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Authorities said the display was likely the result of a conflict between criminal groups operating in the area.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Calvo said the city’s contract with consulting firm NCGA LLC raises potential conflict-of-interest concerns.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Frey said an incident Friday night that led to property damage at an area hotel and confrontation with police officers was an outlier to the largely peaceful events in recent days.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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Ross argued that allowing local police to provide basic crowd control — rather than restricting coordination — could have reduced risks during recent confrontations.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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