Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun tug-of-war

2 senses of tug-of-war

Sense 1
tug-of-war -- (any hard struggle between equally matched groups)
       => conflict, struggle, battle -- (an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); "the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine; "police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs")

Sense 2
tug-of-war -- (a contest in which teams pull of opposite ends of a rope; the team dragged across a central line loses)
       => athletic contest, athletic competition, athletics -- (a contest between athletes)