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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Recent Examples of tugs-of-war
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
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
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Alexander Wynaendts, supervisory board chairman at Deutsche Bank, said Wednesday that Europe needs to reduce regulations and boost its output to compete with China and the US despite challenges posed by the Middle East war and intra-regional rivalries.—
Steve Gelsi,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The postseason format the NHL brought back with the divisional realignment for the 2013-14 season to intensify the first round and double down on regional rivalries has occasionally proved controversial.—
Dave Campbell,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And tourism-dependent Saipan - the site of one of World War II's bloodiest battles in the Pacific - was still reeling from Yutu when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hunter said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Fox Valley has lost a war hero – not the kind who fought the enemy with military prowess but who waged her battles with a fierce faith in God and a heart that beat with joy and compassion.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, in the immediate term, Gil’s struggles may be an issue for a few more turns throughout the rotation.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His hot stretches were overshadowed in his mind by some struggles late in the spring, creating a stretch of self-doubt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The leaders of China and Spain on Tuesday pledged to strengthen their relations and work to safeguard multilateralism at a time when the world is being impacted by various conflicts, including the recent war in Iran, during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The stakes are high — suffice it to say, the tip is on the line — but the substance of the conflicts is absolutely ridiculous.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Edwards missed the first meeting, and Denver was without multiple rotational pieces in each of the final three duels.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Among defenders with 900 or more Premier League minutes this season, Mosquera ranks joint 10th for duels won per 90 minutes and seventh for tackles won per 90.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to the waters, a key global trade route, but territorial confrontations have particularly spiked between Chinese and Philippine forces in recent years.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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The problem is this can create confrontations in all your one-on-one relationships, especially spouses, partners and close friends.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The show features 12,000-pound trucks pulling off incredible moves, including balancing on two wheels and flying in head-to-head competitions.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
From new restaurant openings and beloved bakeries finding permanent homes to chef competitions and reader polls, here’s everything that happened in Charlotte food this week on CharlotteFive.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for talks with the United States, Lebanon insists on representing itself.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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New wars are sustaining old energy regimes, driving price volatility through the same fossil-fuel supply chains the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was designed to buffer against half a century ago.—
Diana Hernández,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs-of-war. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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