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
In astrology, squares create tension in order to push us into action, but this particular square could feel like a tug-of-war between what feels safe and what is meant to transform in your life.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maul and Devon's relationship is an entertaining tug-of-war; Lawson is a caf-loving lawman best described as well-meaning, but out of his element; and the inevitable arrival of Imperial forces (including two Inquisitors) quickly threatens disaster for both sides.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Stubborn Venus in your visible 10th house argues with intense Pluto in your 7th House of Alliances, spotlighting a tug-of-war between public praise and private promises.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Camp time culminates in a team competition, where groups face off in a head-to-head series of tug-of-war battles, relays and other physical challenges — all in a quest for ultimate bragging rights.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maul and Devon's relationship is an entertaining tug-of-war; Lawson is a caf-loving lawman best described as well-meaning, but out of his element; and the inevitable arrival of Imperial forces (including two Inquisitors) quickly threatens disaster for both sides.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Stubborn Venus in your visible 10th house argues with intense Pluto in your 7th House of Alliances, spotlighting a tug-of-war between public praise and private promises.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Camp time culminates in a team competition, where groups face off in a head-to-head series of tug-of-war battles, relays and other physical challenges — all in a quest for ultimate bragging rights.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
-
Westin was the dominant force in Friday’s crosstown rivalry game.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Nilan and Miller spent a lot of those minutes punching each other, Nilan as a Canadien and Miller as a Bruin, during the 1980s iteration of the ancient rivalry.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Voters will probably be bombarded with political ads and arguments from opposing sides as the battle intensifies.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Koh-i-Noor then spent 70 years in Afghanistan, where it was passed around by leaders who won bloody battles against one another.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In contrast to his offensive struggles, Ohtani has been dominant on the mound.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
But what was more surprising Monday night were Embiid’s struggles in his Sixers’ 137-98 loss to the Knicks.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Prediction markets have increased competition but have not significantly slowed the industry’s growth.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Only weeks remain before hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to start descending on Kansas City for the first game, on June 16, of the month-long 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Engage in precise sword duels and stealthy takedowns.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
The civil trial, taking place in San Francisco, pits two of tech’s most powerful egos against each other in a duel for control over the broader AI ecosystem.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On September 15th, 1916, land warfare was forever revolutionized with the first operational appearance of the tank.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
Mario Diaz-Balart is one of a dwindling number of lawmakers who come from an era in which Democrats and Republicans cooperated more and were less inclined to engage in today’s approach of constant political warfare.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
But, though the guns of war were a decade in the past, the nation had not escaped the spectre of conflict.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Under previous administrations, including President Barack Obama’s, immigration laws were enforced without this kind of performative conflict.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Noun
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But the hyper-specificity and confrontation on these albums form real connection, creating the feeling that the listener is being trusted with someone else’s secrets and struggles — and safe to embrace their own, too.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
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In dispatch audio obtained by the outlet, a woman caller says a Black man in his 30s shot at her vehicle after a brief confrontation.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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