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
Sunday’s 9-4 finale win was more tug-of-war than Saturday’s 9-1 laugher, though.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Your disciplined patience turns this tug-of-war into structure by setting expectations early, delegating tasks where possible, and finishing the key task that moves results the most.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The ensuing tug-of-war is driven by Karl’s second wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), another story accelerant in the guise of a person.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 May 2026
Interview with James Talarico The 10 or so months between the announcement of Colbert's cancellation and the actual finale have been a fascinating game of tug-of-war between the comedian and the higher powers at CBS.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Your disciplined patience turns this tug-of-war into structure by setting expectations early, delegating tasks where possible, and finishing the key task that moves results the most.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
The ensuing tug-of-war is driven by Karl’s second wife, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), another story accelerant in the guise of a person.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 20 May 2026
Interview with James Talarico The 10 or so months between the announcement of Colbert's cancellation and the actual finale have been a fascinating game of tug-of-war between the comedian and the higher powers at CBS.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
-
But when rivalry between sororities escalates and a body is found, ambition, loyalty, and sisterhood collide with deadly consequences.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
-
The oldest rivalry in the NFL doesn’t include a team from Green Bay.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Mexico dominated, winning the possession battle 60% to 40%.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The Patriots had goals from Maya Feloney and Ava Bridgman, but the possession battle was firmly in NDA’s favor with the score being 5-2.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The couple also has been open about their struggle with IVF in recent years.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The family’s legal struggles have loomed large over the last several years, but Steven says two moments in particular stand out as the most difficult.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Reality competition slipped to 45 from 50; unstructured reality rose to 38 from 36.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
The 2026 men’s World Cup group stage consists of 12 groups of four competing in round-robin competition, an increase of 16 teams from the last men’s World Cup.—
Boston Herald,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The game began with an unusual pitcher's duel in this ballpark between rookie starters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
-
One game turned grabbing the last slice of cake into a pistol duel of who could press the button at exactly the right time.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
During the early phases of the war, battlefield dynamics were often shaped by technological innovation, particularly the rapid rise of drones and electronic warfare systems.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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Thiagarajan Kumararaja's directorial debut set the international film scene on fire with a story of class warfare that features a rooster as a key plot device.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
In other words, the current combination of US political tensions and global conflicts are driving more US nationals to seek new options overseas.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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Notably, the Vikings haven’t been able to create this conflict.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
For now, Meloni has avoided direct confrontation, a strategy seen as both calculation and a bet that Vannacci’s momentum may fade.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
-
During the confrontation, a person pulled out a gun and fired several shots, hitting two people, according to police.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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