tug-of-war

noun

ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯr How to pronounce tug-of-war (audio)
plural tugs-of-war
Synonyms of tug-of-warnext
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

Synonyms of tug-of-war

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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
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.
The remaining Eagles stopped caring about the tug-of-war between art and commerce; for the next five decades, money ruled. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026 The universe’s dark tug-of-war For decades, scientists have struggled to understand the invisible game of tug-of-war that dominates our universe. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Suddenly, the football debate world has a juicy topic, a bit of a tug-of-war between quarterback and coach, and a reminder of how nonstop the scrutiny of Williams’ play will continue to be. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The 2026 back-to-school supplies season has turned into a tug-of-war between what children want, what families can afford and how quickly a single viral item can rewrite a shopping list. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tug-of-war was in 1677

Rhymes for tug-of-war

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Browse Nearby Words

tug-of-love
tug-of-war
tug/pull at one's heartstrings
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Cite this Entry

“Tug-of-war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug-of-war. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tug-of-war

noun
ˌtəg-ə(v)-ˈwȯ(ə)r
plural tugs-of-war
1
: a struggle to win
2
: a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope

More from Merriam-Webster on tug-of-war

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tug-of-war

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