as in rivalry
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
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Recent Examples of tug-of-war
The president-elect’s penchant for tariffs could be complicated by a tug-of-war between Trump and some of the Republican Party’s biggest stakeholders and his top advisers.
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Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2024
Alabama’s congressional lawmakers are sounding optimistic about winning back the U.S. Space Command headquarters after a Biden-era tug-of-war with Colorado.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
Between the lines: In a Cabinet stocked with a dizzying array of ideological rivals, the FBI has emerged as the final battleground in a fierce tug-of-war between MAGA and traditional Republicans.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
With the kickoff temperature at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the first half was a defensive tug-of-war between both teams.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tug-of-war 
Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2024
Alabama’s congressional lawmakers are sounding optimistic about winning back the U.S. Space Command headquarters after a Biden-era tug-of-war with Colorado.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
Between the lines: In a Cabinet stocked with a dizzying array of ideological rivals, the FBI has emerged as the final battleground in a fierce tug-of-war between MAGA and traditional Republicans.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
With the kickoff temperature at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the first half was a defensive tug-of-war between both teams.
—Jacob Lev, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war
Noun
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After years of rivalry and a stint in a psychiatric ward, Sharp sets out to get revenge on Ashton for stealing her fiancé, while Ashton seeks the secret to lasting youth.Emily Burns, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024
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Macchio returned as Daniel in the TV series Cobra Kai, where his rivalry with longtime opponent Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) is reignited 35 years later.Jen Juneau, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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His success at the battle paved the way for subsequent victories that would eventually lead to the downfall of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.Newsweek, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
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Detroit has lost its cavalry commander from the Last Great Newspaper War, the all-out mid-1980s battle for circulation in the last market outside New York where two newspapers still sold more than 650,000 copies a day.Tim Kiska, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Winter is in full swing in the Gaza Strip, and every day is a struggle to survive for children displaced by violence and living in makeshift tents.Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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After a brief struggle, the man pulled out a gun and shot Horan, before leaving the scene by car at about 11 a.m., according to a news release from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Once the initial shock subsides, Kit and Theo decide this is the perfect opportunity to prove who won the breakup – with a hookup competition.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The campaign came ahead of the 37th America’s Cup sailing competition, which took place in Barcelona in the fall.Luisa Zargani, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is challenging Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to an AI duel.Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
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The bouts were true Mexican boxing classics that left both fighters physically scarred, as neither of them was the same after those three duels in the span of a year.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Peace of Christmas Eve in 1814 ended an era of warfare between Britain and the United States.William Lambers, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
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Sure, there is injustice, class warfare, and strong intelligent women chafing within the strict confines of traditional binary gender roles.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In 2024, archaeological evidence of armed conflicts spanned the ancient era through World War II.Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
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However, conflict arose when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports declined to renew their charter agreements due to concerning clauses that seemed to prevent teams from filing antitrust lawsuits against NASCAR.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Zoom in: Trump is sparking a confrontation with his closest allies in Congress, with Johnson caught in the middle.Justin Green, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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Garrido was caught on camera leaving a nearby restaurant before his confrontation with the traffic agent.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near tug-of-war
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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