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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sharply
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of hammer-and-tongs
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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Follow more of our reporting on Deadly Dose Crime One Kansas police force’s approach to fighting fentanyl is driving down violent crime November 30, 2023 6:10 AM Government & Politics Missouri lawmakers push new charges for fentanyl dealers.Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
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The prospect of requiring harsher penalties for pot possession than most violent crimes gave some Republicans pause at the wide-ranging hearing, which lasted for more than two hours.Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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More than 12,000 homes have been destroyed by ferocious fires that have left at least 11 dead.Chantz Martin, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
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Those howling winds, measured at speeds approaching 100 mph, fueled the ferocious firestorms that followed.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Lyft’s challenges were compounded by fierce rivalry with Uber (NYSE: UBER) and the disruptive impact of the pandemic.Trefis Team, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Tariffs Don't Have to Make Economic Sense to Appeal to Trump Voters The debates over tariffs were fierce.Einav Rabinovitch-Fox / Made by History, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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There’s also buzz for Moore’s co-star Margaret Qualley, who’s harnessing a CCA and Globe nod so far and hoping to hang on to a supporting actress race that’s as fiercely competitive as its leading counterpart.Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025
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And who will reign supreme in what may be the most fiercely competitive category of the night: female actor in a comedy or musical?Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For years, murmurs of a US TikTok ban have left users and creators furious and terrified that a social media app that had become central to their lives could be taken away.Vox Staff, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
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In a furious assault that began Tuesday morning and continued into Wednesday night, a wind-and-wildfire monster attacked a metropolis of 4,753 square miles and nearly 10 million people, whipping up flames that tore through communities of every socioeconomic status and stripe.Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But wearied by a turbulent couple of years that saw points deductions, relegation battles and near-constant speculation over the future of the club, the 53-year-old made clear his view that his methods were no longer having the same impact.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Aikman too had some turbulent times early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys.Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Although the name might conjure a place that's a little rough around the edges, don't be fooled—the food at Stinky's is top notch, and the live music is not to be missed.Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2025
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Battling high winds and rough seas, the ship came perilously close to running aground on rocky shores.David Nikel, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The uncrewed craft will then land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium – a 300-mile-wide basin in the northeast quadrant of the moon's near side.Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
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For wellness seekers, Champagne Beach invites you to relax in its natural jacuzzi, where volcanic seafloor vents create soothing bubbles.Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
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 20 Jan. 2025.
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