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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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is inactive for Sunday's rivalry matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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Just look at what even happened in college football, some of these rivalry games and things of that nature over the weekend.Ben Morse, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Creating great content is only half the battle—activation is key.Yogesh Shah, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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What was expected to be an epic battle for the ages between big-market clubs such as the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets is finally over.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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One of the officers was shocked during the struggle, too.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
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As the balance of power shifts, the Kurds' struggle for recognition and safety remains precarious amid Syria's unfolding new order.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Being certified as an adjudicator by the National Dance Council America means your expertise in the art form is so wide-ranging and highly regarded that you're granted the ability to judge other professionals in national competitions.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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And despite an international competition to reimagine the rebuild of the cathedral’s famous spire, Mr. Macron ultimately opted to restore it to Viollet-le-Duc’s conception.Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Russia’s war on Ukraine Russia, in their war against Ukraine, has been manipulating information and spreading disinformation online as a means of information warfare, including by the use of AI and deepfake.Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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In Wednesday’s attack, according to Moscow, Russian air defenses shot down two of the missiles, while electronic warfare equipment deflected the others.Sophie Tanno, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Having finished up the Eras Tour on December 8, Swift does not appear to have any scheduling conflicts that would keep her from attending today's game in Cleveland, Ohio.Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 15 Dec. 2024
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Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame were set to meet Sunday in Angola, which has been mediating the conflict to put an end to a decades-long conflict in eastern Congo between the Congolese army and M23 rebel group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda.Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The camera was quickly turned off, but Mason’s indelible memory of that confrontation lives on, not only in his mind but also in the new movie September 5, in limited theaters Dec. 13.Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
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For those families who consider gift giving a nonnegotiable aspect of the holidays, Ward encourages people to buy something small to avoid confrontations.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 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 21 Dec. 2024.
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