variants
or knock-down-and-drag-out
as in fierce
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
the football game was a knock-down, drag-out battle between bitter rivals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of knock-down, drag-out
This was a knock-down, drag-out fight — the kind of match that would make for excellent watching when Marvel Snap tournaments are up and running.
—
Ash Parrish, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2023
Last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight could just be the first of many this session as GOP lawmakers grapple with government spending, the debt ceiling and the situation at the border.
—Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023
But both performers rode their SNL success to Hollywood superstardom, in turn validating the audience's appetite for inspired silliness and knock-down, drag-out belly-laughs.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2022
As much as the streaming wars can feel like a knock-down, drag-out fight, Amazon can spend time on the ropes because streaming isn’t its core business.
—Angela Watercutter, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022
But rather than a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish, this series is all about empowerment.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2022
However, leaping in expecting an argument to become a knock-down, drag-out fight isn't the best way to go about your life.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 9 Feb. 2022
Its climactic scenes are the same as any classically satisfying sports movie’s: athletes (in this case, young Venus) making decisions about themselves, their worth, their futures, and bringing those notions to bear in a knock-down, drag-out match.
—K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2021
The show features all the beats of a rom-com (an onion-like peeling of layers, a knock-down, drag-out fight, a grand, loving gesture that attempts to soothe it all) and even pays homage to a few of the genre mainstays.
—BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2021
Ash Parrish, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2023
Last week’s knock-down, drag-out fight could just be the first of many this session as GOP lawmakers grapple with government spending, the debt ceiling and the situation at the border.
—Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023
But both performers rode their SNL success to Hollywood superstardom, in turn validating the audience's appetite for inspired silliness and knock-down, drag-out belly-laughs.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2022
As much as the streaming wars can feel like a knock-down, drag-out fight, Amazon can spend time on the ropes because streaming isn’t its core business.
—Angela Watercutter, Wired, 18 Mar. 2022
But rather than a knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish, this series is all about empowerment.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2022
However, leaping in expecting an argument to become a knock-down, drag-out fight isn't the best way to go about your life.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 9 Feb. 2022
Its climactic scenes are the same as any classically satisfying sports movie’s: athletes (in this case, young Venus) making decisions about themselves, their worth, their futures, and bringing those notions to bear in a knock-down, drag-out match.
—K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2021
The show features all the beats of a rom-com (an onion-like peeling of layers, a knock-down, drag-out fight, a grand, loving gesture that attempts to soothe it all) and even pays homage to a few of the genre mainstays.
—BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock-down, drag-out
Adjective
-
Ben Vaughn, one of the most consequential publishing executives in Music City and a fierce advocate for songwriters, died suddenly Thursday.—
Nate Rau,
Axios,
30 Jan. 2025
-
In response, Israel launched a fierce air and ground war.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The show follows the events surrounding the real-life Mountain Meadows Massacre, a violent attack that led to the mass murder of at least 120 members of the Baker-Fancher wagon train.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
-
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is intent on changing the script of American cities plagued by crime by implementing policy changes that have led to violent crime taking a tumble.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The cast does commendable work bringing their characters to life: Ashe’s Elham is ferocious, prickly, and competitive; Tabbal’s Omid is lovable but too good; Lalezarzadeh’s Goli is young, bright-eyed, yet wise; Pooya’s Roya is queenly, imposing, and devoted.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Rucks came up with an offensive rebound before drawing a foul and splitting a pair of free throws with 1:37 left to set up the final furious sequence.—
Chuck Livingston Special to the Democrat-Gazette,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
-
It was met with furious pushback, public outcry, and a string of defeats in court.—
Vox Staff,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The first responders of 9-1-1: Lone Star have survived a toxic gas cloud, plane mechanical failure, a massive tornado, comas, an electrical storm, and even a volcanic eruption...well, at least most of them did.—
Patrick Gomez,
EW.com,
28 Jan. 2025
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The Big Island's Mauna Kea volcanic summit saw its first snow in late October.—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The fans were on their feet and roaring after UCLA center Mara threw an outlet pass reminiscent of legendary predecessor Bill Walton to Eric Dailey Jr. for a vicious one-handed dunk.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2025
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Viewers not familiar with Housewives might not realize that Dolores, who thus far this season has been very levelheaded, has a vicious, scrappy alter ego by the name of Patterson Dolores, after her New Jersey stomping grounds.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near knock-down, drag-out
Cite this Entry
“Knock-down, drag-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock-down%2C%20drag-out. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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