as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight
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as in sharply
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of hammer-and-tongs in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 16 July 2024
The two conservative groups that brought the case were targeted by Harris in 2012-13, right around the time the IRS was going hammer and tongs after Tea Party groups.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2021
Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch.
—SI.com, 18 Sep. 2019
The Reds went hammer and tongs in their efforts to find a second, though their hosts were able to hold off the onslaught until the final 10 minutes of the clash.
—SI.com, 15 Aug. 2019
With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs.
—Washington Post, 18 July 2019
The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others.
—Jim Jones, idahostatesman, 18 May 2018
Adverb
In 1971, authors Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal went at it hammer and tongs live on late-night TV in a showdown that allegedly spilled over into violence.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 16 July 2024
The two conservative groups that brought the case were targeted by Harris in 2012-13, right around the time the IRS was going hammer and tongs after Tea Party groups.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2021
Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch.
—SI.com, 18 Sep. 2019
The Reds went hammer and tongs in their efforts to find a second, though their hosts were able to hold off the onslaught until the final 10 minutes of the clash.
—SI.com, 15 Aug. 2019
With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs.
—Washington Post, 18 July 2019
The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others.
—Jim Jones, idahostatesman, 18 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer-and-tongs
Adjective
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged encampments at multiple universities denouncing Israel’s war in Gaza, with tense protests at institutions such as the University of Washington and Portland State University turning into violent altercations.Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Oct. 2024
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Being Violent or Abusive This should go without saying, but being violent or abusive in just about any context is grounds for removal — and potentially arrest.Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Cooper has been a significant part of that success as a ferocious defender up front.Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024
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This deadly drop combines mutant healing factor with killer instincts to bring you five ferocious cards inspired by the X-Men’s most relentless member, including an all-new, legendary Wolverine card.Jennifer Maas, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Thorpe has long campaigned for a treaty and has previously voiced fierce objections to the British monarchy.Alexandra Banner, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024
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But Israel has only stepped up a fierce ground and air assault on northern Gaza, and, with the region still anticipating an Israeli retaliatory strike against Iran, cease-fire talks remain moribund.Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2024
Adverb
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The event was billed as a call to action to vote early in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania, where Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris are fiercely contesting the election.Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2024
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That ensured Wisconsin would be fiercely contested in the 2020 election, and when the dust settled, President Joe Biden prevailed.Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Isaac, who always felt like an outsider in life, is now furious that his contemporary Alexander Hamilton has everything from money to a book to a musical commemorating him.Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
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The concert lasted only 42 minutes, leaving the goth pioneer furious.Jade Gomez, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Camille was the very smart widow who led the company through the turbulent 1930’s, and insured its success into the future.Liz Thach, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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Then came the two-week journey down the turbulent Yukon River to Dawson, for which travelers had to build their own boats.Melanie Haiken, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Industrial pain : The industrials are having a rough day.Jeff Marks, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2024
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After a rough script is written, experts are consulted, beginning a lengthy fact-checking and simplification process, as the concept is squeezed into a nutshell.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The Cleanse treatment stands out as one of Sana’s signature offerings, incorporating traditional Mexican wellness elements like volcanic clay and sacred herbs for detoxification and renewal.Caroline Tell, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
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Because of volcanic eruptions, the port ultimately fell into the sea.Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hammer-and-tongs
Cite this Entry
“Hammer-and-tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer-and-tongs. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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