tug-of-war
noun
plural tugs-of-war
1
: a struggle for supremacy or control usually involving two antagonists
2
: a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope with the object of pulling the middle of the rope over a mark on the ground
Examples of tug-of-war in a Sentence
the effort to get their teenage son to keep his room clean is a constant tug-of-war
Recent Examples on the Web
Stubborn Venus in your visible 10th house argues with intense Pluto in your 7th House of Alliances, spotlighting a tug-of-war between public praise and private promises.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
When these two cosmic powerhouses collide in a square, the tension can feel like a tug-of-war between action and emotion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Camp time culminates in a team competition, where groups face off in a head-to-head series of tug-of-war battles, relays and other physical challenges — all in a quest for ultimate bragging rights.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
At Big Tech companies, the offers are even more eye-watering as firms pour billions into AI, igniting a nonstop tug-of-war for talent among companies like OpenAI, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
When these two cosmic powerhouses collide in a square, the tension can feel like a tug-of-war between action and emotion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Camp time culminates in a team competition, where groups face off in a head-to-head series of tug-of-war battles, relays and other physical challenges — all in a quest for ultimate bragging rights.
—Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
At Big Tech companies, the offers are even more eye-watering as firms pour billions into AI, igniting a nonstop tug-of-war for talent among companies like OpenAI, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
Cite this Entry
“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug-of-war. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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