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
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
Where do the natural wonders of America’s wildlife in its mute creatures—the tortoises, birds, bumblebees, flowers, fish and forests—fit in the fiscal tug-of-war amid current political winners and losers?
—
Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
One other key matchup tug-of-war: Ole Miss’ constant switching on defense forces isolation possessions at one of the highest rates in the country.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
The goal is to prioritize your romance without falling into a tug-of-war for your partner’s time, attention, or loyalty.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 27 Mar. 2025
Vito, seething and remorseless, grabs at control relentlessly; Frank, in no mood to fight, tries to cede it graciously, resulting in a lopsided tug-of-war.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
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Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
One other key matchup tug-of-war: Ole Miss’ constant switching on defense forces isolation possessions at one of the highest rates in the country.
—Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
The goal is to prioritize your romance without falling into a tug-of-war for your partner’s time, attention, or loyalty.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 27 Mar. 2025
Vito, seething and remorseless, grabs at control relentlessly; Frank, in no mood to fight, tries to cede it graciously, resulting in a lopsided tug-of-war.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 Apr. 2025.
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