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
Despite being caught in the tug-of-war between the U.S. and BRICS, India has appeared to escape Trump’s wrath.
—
Mavis Mook, CNBC, 25 July 2025
But the moment also opens space for new types of governance that move past the usual tug-of-war between regulation and laissez-faire.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The tug-of-war over the singer's finances reportedly began shortly after Buffett's death in 2023.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Your public image and personal life are in a tug-of-war, Taurus.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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Mavis Mook, CNBC, 25 July 2025
But the moment also opens space for new types of governance that move past the usual tug-of-war between regulation and laissez-faire.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The tug-of-war over the singer's finances reportedly began shortly after Buffett's death in 2023.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Your public image and personal life are in a tug-of-war, Taurus.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 July 2025
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 30 Jul. 2025.
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