tug-of-war
noun
plural tugs-of-war
1
: a struggle for supremacy or control usually involving two antagonists
2
: a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope with the object of pulling the middle of the rope over a mark on the ground
Synonyms
Examples of tug-of-war in a Sentence
the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war
Recent Examples on the Web
Those include the kid-friendly Family Beach, which features games like paddle ball and tug-of-war; the Ultimate Family Cabana, which has its own whirlpool, slide, and frozen drink machine; and the festive Party Cove, which features a DJ and VIP area.
—
Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Every ten spaces or so is one that calls for a skill-testing competition between two teams—tug-of-war, a sack race, racing on stilts or targeting giant wooden geese by slingshot.
—John Last, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
This could feel like a tug-of-war between your desire for freedom versus the weight of your responsibilities.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
In it together Like a game of tug-of-war, some Detroiters aim to push the urban agriculture industry forward, while those on the opposing side are vehemently muscling for a return to the metropolitan way things were.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tug-of-war 
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.
Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Every ten spaces or so is one that calls for a skill-testing competition between two teams—tug-of-war, a sack race, racing on stilts or targeting giant wooden geese by slingshot.
—John Last, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
This could feel like a tug-of-war between your desire for freedom versus the weight of your responsibilities.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
In it together Like a game of tug-of-war, some Detroiters aim to push the urban agriculture industry forward, while those on the opposing side are vehemently muscling for a return to the metropolitan way things were.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Dictionary Entries Near tug-of-war
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug-of-war. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share