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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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A lot of Flagg’s struggles can be explained by the situation he’s been put in.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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The shutdown could very well exacerbate those struggles for many Americans, especially people on the margins.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Much like the classic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning duels of old, the quarterback matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — the two current MVP frontrunners — is can’t-miss television.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
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Boise State and Fresno State have engaged in some pretty tight duels through the years.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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City have won 17 of their 18 meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, but that one defeat, at the Vitality Stadium this time last year, made a real impression on Guardiola.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Between homecoming, football games and marching competitions every weekend, band students are spending more time with each other than at home.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Over the course of human evolution, there were pandemics, there were wars, but people didn't die from Alzheimer's disease or diabetes or heart disease.—
Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
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In an era of tariffs and global trade wars, brands can’t rely on low prices as a crutch—the model is eroding under scrutiny.—
Catherine Salfino,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugs-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs-of-war. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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