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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs-of-war
Noun
-
Beijing’s talent-friendly move could also give it a boost amid continuing trade tensions and tech rivalries with Washington, which has imposed export controls on chips and other advanced technology that are spurring China to develop its own.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Lewis, a tight end at Wisconsin from 2004-07, traces his appreciation for rivalries to his Big Ten roots.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Despite years of legal battles over the relocations, more than 150,000 bodies were exhumed from the 1920s to the early 1940s for the trip to Colma, each in various stages of decay.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
As legal battles intensify, the administration faces mounting pressure to justify its actions and resolve a case that has tested the limits of executive authority over immigration enforcement.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bieber’s close friend Kendall Jenner has been open about her own struggles with acne—recently, becoming an ambassador for Therabody’s new LED mask, the TheraFace Mask Glo.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And despite their struggles at times, the Dolphins haven’t wavered from investing in those young players in this 1-6 start.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The official inauguration, originally scheduled for July 3, 2025, was postponed to the last quarter of the year due to regional conflicts.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Introduced by FilmNation last fall as a sales title at AFM, the film originally had Alan Ritchson attached to star opposite Midthunder, though he was reportedly forced to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Prediction Robertson and Hoover have one of the nation’s best quarterback duels, but a healthier Baylor squad pulls out a 38-35 win over the Horned Frogs.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Some questions are visually supported by photographs, others by sound, while other duels focus on open questions, multiple choice and association.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
You could also be tested by stressful confrontations, urging you to stand up for yourself without losing yourself in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
For now, the Chamber’s legal challenge represents one of the most direct confrontations between the nation’s largest business lobby and a Republican administration over immigration policy in decades.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His current tally of three goals in all competitions (one of which was a penalty at Burnley) is his lowest return at this stage of a season.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Shelton appeared in a total of 191 matches in two stints with Sporting KC across all competitions.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Known as one of the costliest wars in history, the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers has been attributed to battle, as well as starvation, cold and a typhus epidemic that broke out.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugs-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs-of-war. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share