TUG-OF-WAR Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

tug-of-war

noun

ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯr

Definition of tug-of-war

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tug-of-war The team modelled a gravitational tug-of-war between Venus, a hypothetical moon, and the sun, following this forward over billions of years. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Corbin was about to drag it back into the ring before Yachty started a tug-of-war for the belt. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 Malick Fofana The drama might have largely passed Fofana himself by, but the tug-of-war for the forward’s signature was one of the sagas of deadline day. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026 Still, their emotionally ruinous tug-of-war goes on for so many rounds that the movie limps toward the end credits exhausted. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug-of-war

Noun

And allowing the top seeds to select their opponents in the first two rounds would create compelling storylines, intensify existing rivalries and create new ones.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Better still, they could’ve been forced to navigate a professional rivalry if, say, Roy is expected to support Chelsea’s women’s club.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

In yet another battle between the states and social media platforms, Florida asked a state judge to order changes on Instagram and Facebook in an effort to protect young users.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
At the same time, Hollister was also engaged in a lengthy courtroom battle with Perry and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the rights to another property, a Los Feliz convent the singer hoped to turn into a private home.

— Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Together, the songs take longtime Prine fans and new followers more deeply into his vivid approach to songwriting, which gave voice to the lives, emotions, struggles and celebrations of everyday people.

— Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
The heat is sweltering, mosquitoes buzz around the apartment and routine tasks are a constant struggle.

— Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

There’s a lot more competition now, especially with the celebrity beauty brands and the indie or niche brands that are blowing up on TikTok, which is a super popular platform for discovering new beauty products.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
The report singles out Japan, women’s competitions and homegrown stars as the areas most likely to draw competing bids.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

The Brewers defended home turf in Game 1 of the NLCS, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2–1 in a tight pitching duel.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
And in the second half, the game turned into a duel between standout QBs each making his sixth college start.

— PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

Gallium nitride, on the other hand, is suited to high-frequency applications, including communications equipment, radar and electronic warfare systems.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
For the first few years of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks in Europe remained just below the threshold that might trigger a collective response.

— Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

Soon afterward, the antagonism between Nusra and ISIS spiralled into open conflict.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
To further lessen the risk of future conflict, Washington should also work with its partners to reduce the world’s vulnerability to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

— Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

The cause of their displeasure has to do with scenes woven throughout that illustrate how Baldwin got his reputation for angry outbursts – confrontations with paparazzi through the years, for instance.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Rodan-Benzaquen argued that intensifying political confrontation could help Mélenchon consolidate his support among younger voters and immigrant communities, while portraying the far right as an increasingly serious threat.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Browse Nearby Words

tugging

tug-of-war

tugs

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“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug-of-war. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tug-of-war

noun

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