as in fisticuffs
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Recent Examples of slugfest
This was a slugfest between a great team and a really good team that was decided in the game’s trenches.
—
James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
The Cavs-Thunder matchup last week was as good as advertised, a thrilling up-and-down slugfest that had fans giddy for a postseason rematch.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
And in late 2015, amid a political slugfest over the fate of the pro-UNM Rustavi 2 television station, Saakashvili and his allies in Tbilisi were caught planning to use the showdown as a means to foment violence, presumably for political advantage.
—Michael Cecire, Foreign Affairs, 6 Oct. 2016
Well, that many people reportedly tried to watch it, but due to the crush of interest and tune-ins, many reported experiencing buffering problems and glitches that interrupted what turned out to be a surprisingly banal slugfest.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slugfest
James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
The Cavs-Thunder matchup last week was as good as advertised, a thrilling up-and-down slugfest that had fans giddy for a postseason rematch.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
And in late 2015, amid a political slugfest over the fate of the pro-UNM Rustavi 2 television station, Saakashvili and his allies in Tbilisi were caught planning to use the showdown as a means to foment violence, presumably for political advantage.
—Michael Cecire, Foreign Affairs, 6 Oct. 2016
Well, that many people reportedly tried to watch it, but due to the crush of interest and tune-ins, many reported experiencing buffering problems and glitches that interrupted what turned out to be a surprisingly banal slugfest.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slugfest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slugfest
Noun
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The bullying escalated to a fistfight after Jeff stole Emily's backpack and threw it into a toilet, resulting in suspensions for both teens.—
Jason Fields,
Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2024
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For his part, puppy eyes and moderate angst do not comprise a very tough veneer, despite fistfights thrown in every once in a while.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Michelle Cooper, 22, winger (Kansas City Current) Another USWNT rookie, Cooper showed her ability to defend along the front line last season, ranking ninth among wingers and attacking midfielders by winning 50.3% of her duels.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
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California’s Capitol has seen countless conflicts between economic interests, but few match the intensity of a duel between the fast food industry and labor unions that seemingly ended two years ago with compromise legislation raising the minimum wage to $20.—
Dan Walters,
Orange County Register,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Most of the group was subsequently deported, but the livestreamed melee generated views.—
David Peisner,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
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That record was set during another matchup between Canada and the U.S. — Matthew and Brady’s father, Keith Tkachuk, and Bill Guerin, now Team USA’s general manager, were among those involved in the melee for Team USA.—
Lauren Merola,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
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Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The hard-throwing lefty dominated across 72 appearances (72.0 innings), notching a 1.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 84 punch-outs.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Nov. 2024
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Asus chose to have a punch-out camera and obscure part of the screen rather than mount it in a larger bezel, which shows how form has come ahead of function.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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During the race, a confrontation erupted between Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Whether through an in-ring appearance or a post-match confrontation, her involvement could set up a major WrestleMania feud, particularly within the women’s division.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As Carbon Nation bounced from Hawaii to California and then to Las Vegas in 2020, the ideological messages once so prominent in their videos were increasingly buried beneath a surreal, debauched montage: members slapping each other, a brawl on the beach between Bishop’s wives.—
David Peisner,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
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Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tuneup for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.—
Jimmy Golen,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Completing the quartet is Justin Withers’ Demetrius, who unleashes his comic chops during a hilarious donnybrook.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Saturday’s donnybrook at the Horseshoe may not have scared up the massive numbers that last year’s Ohio State-Michigan showdown delivered, but Fox’s broadcast of the 120th installment of The Game still ranks as the college football season’s second-biggest TV draw.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
4 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Slugfest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slugfest. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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