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

tugs-of-war

noun

plural of tug-of-war

as in rivalries

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 tugs-of-war These places have always been subject to imperial tugs-of-war. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 Both the Russian and Chinese governments have been compromising routers for years, sometimes in prolonged tugs-of-war to wrest control of devices the other has already commandeered. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 This climactic collision is woven from several minor ethical tugs-of-war that rest on each character exhibiting both selfishness and altruism in various scenes, until their complicated humanity is placed under a harsh spotlight. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026 Youssef has a history of intense and high-profile tugs-of-war with Egypt’s authoritarian regimes, the most recent of which has been in power since 2014. — Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs-of-war

Noun

Then again, this is part of what makes college football rivalries so great.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
The Panthers and Broncos, who face off Friday for the 44th time in history, share one of the most storied rivalries in Georgia.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

But a judge has now paused construction across the region, giving a major boost to landowners who have sought to impede the wall by refusing to cooperate with government surveyors, protesting at county meetings and gearing up for court battles.

— Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Though their eligibility battles remain unsettled, both players took part in Thursday’s 45-minute open practice at Allen Fieldhouse as full-fledged members of KU’s 2026-27 team.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

Getting access to sumo stables, wrestlers, their traditions, rituals and thinking and struggles can’t have been easy.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
The sketch took aim at reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, including plumbing issues and mental-health struggles among the crew during their extended deployment.

— Anna Tingley, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

Expectations around workload and external factors, including international conflicts and crises, are contributing to these heightened anxieties.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Related Stories Set in Yunlin County on Taiwan’s southwest coast, the film follows two boys whose friendship comes under pressure as adult conflicts divide their community.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflicts

Noun

In defence, his lack of physicality is becoming more glaring in a Premier League that is leaning more heavily than ever into duels, second balls and set pieces.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

The war’s repercussions have spread across the Middle East, including conflict in Lebanon and confrontations involving Iran and the United States, while Israel faces a divisive election and questions over security failures.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Three Colombian former soldiers were killed during the confrontations, including a co-leader of the squad.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

This year, more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries were judged in one of the most enjoyable photo competitions on the calendar.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
By 2002, the group had disbanded, but some of its members founded TOOOL and went on to launch yearly lock-picking competitions.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Damage to refineries and disrupted shipping from the wars in Iran and Ukraine have pushed diesel to record highs in many markets, feeding directly into trucking, farming, and freight costs.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
The concern is, if the trade wars continue or worsen, that there will be an even steeper decline to the industry area was built on.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of wars

Browse Nearby Words

tugs

tugs-of-war

tuile

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

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Synonyms of tugs-of-war

noun

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