TUGS-OF-WAR Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

tugs-of-war

noun

plural of tug-of-war

as in rivalries

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

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 tugs-of-war These places have always been subject to imperial tugs-of-war. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 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 This climactic collision is woven from several minor ethical tugs-of-war that rest on each character exhibiting both selfishness and altruism in various scenes, until their complicated humanity is placed under a harsh spotlight. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026 Youssef has a history of intense and high-profile tugs-of-war with Egypt’s authoritarian regimes, the most recent of which has been in power since 2014. — Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs-of-war

Noun

Von der Leyen said the alliance would help Canada and Europe respond together to a world of growing rivalries.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
There's always room for good-natured college football fan ribbing, chanting, rivalries, and even some good old-fashioned hate.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

As Gray, the psychologist, has long argued, many of our culture-war battles can be read as fights over who counts as the real victim.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Many death penalty cases also involve lengthy legal battles, keeping people on death row for years and sometimes decades.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

Amid Butker’s recent struggles, the Chiefs signed veteran Justin Tucker to the practice squad Wednesday, giving Kansas City another option while providing additional competition for its longtime kicker.

— Pete Sweeney November 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Centered in large part around the Warsaw Ghetto, the novel brought to life the daily struggles, fears, and remarkable courage of Jewish families living under unimaginable conditions.

— Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

The war has cast a shadow on Persian Gulf nations that have long presented themselves as paragons of stability in a volatile region, mostly unaffected by the conflicts raging in the wider Middle East.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
There are other long shots Trump could attempt, such as trying to end intractable conflicts in Kashmir or Sudan, to forge a reputation as a peacemaker.

— Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of conflicts

Noun

In defence, his lack of physicality is becoming more glaring in a Premier League that is leaning more heavily than ever into duels, second balls and set pieces.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

Basabe had numerous confrontations outside a Miami Beach polling location during early voting, squaring off with campaign volunteers, a police officer and even the Miami-Dade mayor, records and videos show.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
The 15-year NBA veteran who has been in a number of scuffles and confrontations added another to his resume against the Phoenix Suns.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Victory extended Villa’s outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Factor in other domestic competitions, and Belenenses has seven trophies in total, which is tied for the fifth-most in the nation.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

And around the world, wars and religious persecution have destroyed prayer books, Bibles, Qurans, Torah scrolls, statues, iconography, shrines, relics and many other materials considered venerable.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Maryland is hardly an innocent bystander in America’s gerrymandering wars.

— Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of wars

Browse Nearby Words

tugs

tugs-of-war

tuile

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“Tugs-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs-of-war. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of tugs-of-war

noun

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