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
This particular Full Moon might create a tug-of-war between the demands of home and family versus the demands of your career and your external world.
—
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
This tug-of-war between buyers and sellers can't last forever.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug-of-war
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.
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
On Saturday afternoon, someone dressed as the Christian messiah was among the dozens of people in costumes and masks seen on a video forcing open the door of a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard after a tug-of-war with a security guard.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
This tug-of-war between buyers and sellers can't last forever.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
Yet, the All-American center and linebacker from Illinois was conflicted — and there was a tug-of-war for him between the Bears and the American Football League’s Denver Broncos.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 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 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
