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
The constant tug-of-war between parental responsibilities and professional life can lead to feelings of guilt, stress and burnout that can seem insurmountable without the right strategies in place.
—
Daniel Wendt, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The third round saw contestants join together in a group to compete against another in a game of tug-of-war.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
After all, family time could feel more like a tug-of-war than a holiday with Mars retrograde in your fourth house, Taurus.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
The games continue on throughout each episode, ranging from tug-of-war, glass-bridge walk, dalgona to marbles.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024
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Daniel Wendt, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The third round saw contestants join together in a group to compete against another in a game of tug-of-war.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
After all, family time could feel more like a tug-of-war than a holiday with Mars retrograde in your fourth house, Taurus.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
The games continue on throughout each episode, ranging from tug-of-war, glass-bridge walk, dalgona to marbles.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 23 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2025.
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