HAMMER-AND-TONGS Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

hammer-and-tongs 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hammer-and-tongs

as in violent

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity the scuffle escalated into a hammer-and-tongs fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hammer and tongs

2 of 2

adverb

as in sharply

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 hammer-and-tongs

Adverb

In 1971, authors Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal went at it hammer and tongs live on late-night TV in a showdown that allegedly spilled over into violence. — Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 16 July 2024 The action on Nevarro is crisp and well-presented, highlighted by the Armorer taking out the sniper’s nest singlehandedly with only her hammer and tongs as weapons. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2023 The two conservative groups that brought the case were targeted by Harris in 2012-13, right around the time the IRS was going hammer and tongs after Tea Party groups. — Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 July 2021 Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch. — SI.com, 18 Sep. 2019 With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs. — Washington Post, 18 July 2019 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, 18 May 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer-and-tongs

Adjective

When a violent robbery occurred at a Waterford bank in January 2025, local police faced the difficult task of identifying and locating the suspects.

— State Rep. Greg Howard, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026
The protest turned violent, with some hurling Molotov cocktails into the bank.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026

Definition of violent

Adverb

Georgia, after establishing herself as a non-hands-washer last year (and doubling down over and over again), decided to sharply pivot to become a maven of cleanliness.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Each path promises the same payoff, consistent cold-water immersion for recovery, stress management and mental resilience, but the setup costs, maintenance demands and daily user experience diverge sharply.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026

Definition of sharply

Adjective

Known for his command of ferocious demon-quelling deities, Zhenwu remains a popular deity in Daoist exorcist rituals in places such as Taiwan.

— Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adverb

Attempts to organize farmworkers were often crushed violently.

— Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
Taylor and Mortensen have been engaged in a contentious, high-profile legal battle after a pair of investigations were launched by Utah police departments in February into allegations that each acted violently during altercations that month.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Definition of violently

Adverb

But the coverage is administered by commercial insurance companies, which compete fiercely with one another for the business of about 56 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in drug plans.

— Susan Jaffe, NPR, 6 July 2026
Not one belonging to Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), one of the WSB’s most promising young agents, but her fiercely protective mother, Carly Spencer (Laura Wright).

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026

Definition of fiercely

Adjective

The Kang Kon was unveiled a month after the Choe Hyon in May 2025, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Definition of furious

Adverb

Roughly half of Democrats believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, a charge Israel vehemently denies.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Swift’s attorneys vehemently denied the allegations, and in September 2025, the first case was dismissed, according to Billboard.

— Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Definition of vehemently

Browse Nearby Words

hammer

hammer-and-tongs

hammer and tongs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hammer-and-tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer-and-tongs. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hammer-and-tongs

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes