Words similar to tugging

Example sentences for: tugging

How can you use “tugging” in a sentence? Here are some example sentences to help you improve your vocabulary:

Can this really be us, tugging our forelocks and mumbling, "That's OK, boss, you go ahead and have a good time, we'll just wait out here in the hall and say a few prayers"?
How can the situation almost unanimously be a political "tug of war" if so little is mentioned of who's tugging on the other end?