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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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

Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority.

— Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Professional sports have always thrived on heroes, villains, rivalries and grievances.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

Teams earned points by winning weekly head-to-head battles – tugging a sled across the field the fastest, surviving a heated game of dodgeball – and by simply doing the right thing.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
More recently, the legal battles became the subject of barbs and jokes as comedian Bill Maher accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in late June.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

After the slayings, Nick’s struggles with mental health and drug addiction made headlines.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
That credibility often transfers to the guest, creating an authentic form of brand exposure that traditional advertising struggles to replicate.

— Julio Cesar Gomez, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

The annual Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic will kick off sooner than usual to accommodate booking conflicts with Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Additional conflicts may arise in jurisdictions that prohibit cash customers from paying more than customers using other payment methods, a rule symmetric rounding can violate when a cash total rounds up.

— Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflicts

Noun

Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.

— Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Physicality is an important aspect in winning such duels, but Stones’ timing is often impeccable in the crucial moments.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

Those confrontations with federal officers ultimately turned deadly when Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal agents just weeks apart.

— Clay Masters, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026
The race has been shaped by the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, confrontations that were caught on camera and fueled a backlash to Trump’s immigration policies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Contrast that with eventual EFL champions Coventry City (48 in 49 in all competitions) and Championship runners-up Ipswich Town (50 in 49).

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The discourse has spanned from high school sports to international competitions and pro leagues like the WNBA, where a pair of male former NBA players are currently claiming to identify as women to pressure a more definitive policy.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitions

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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 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tugs-of-war

noun

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