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
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
-
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova had one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, and now the pair are opening up about the friendship that followed off the court in a new documentary that revisits their years at the top of women's tennis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
Their rivalries have surfaced in the Horn of Africa, Libya, and Yemen, and in media networks, investment strategies, and diplomatic initiatives.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Related Stories The project will explore Gaudí’s life, inner battles and spiritual evolution, framing the architect as a radical creative force shaped by faith and an increasingly austere existence.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
What follows is a wildly chaotic getaway featuring inflatable bubble-ball battles, awkward matchmaking schemes, disastrous sabotage attemptsand even an emergency dolphin CPR situation.—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The McDowells are far from alone in their struggles to find stable, straightforward child care.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
Rather than focusing on recent struggles, Mattingly pointed toward the larger body of work that made Bichette one of the American League's most productive young hitters during his years in Toronto.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Haddad said the qualification offers an opportunity for the world to see a different side of Jordan, a nation often overshadowed by regional conflicts.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
In other words, the current combination of US political tensions and global conflicts are driving more US nationals to seek new options overseas.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The 21-year-old is combative in duels and boasts plenty of athleticism to cover ground, which could prove crucial in Portugal’s high-risk system.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
And a lot of times that can be confrontations, right?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
-
The most dramatic confrontations took place this past winter in Minneapolis, but in the months since the federal government ended its occupation of that city, resistance has continued.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The 29-year-old was actually born in Colombia and represented the country in youth competitions early in his career.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The Southern Fried Poetry Slam is in Orlando through Sunday, with a full schedule of competitions and community events.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
After years of criticism of him, of contempt toward him, of wars with him, Dolan won.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Some were lost in wars and accidents.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs-of-war. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
