as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of down-to-the-wire
That stress and pressure presented itself in a down-to-the-wire finish.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Fresh off a historic state championship title, the Saint Mary's varsity football team is back in Stockton after a nail-biting down-to-the-wire win in Southern California against Bakersfield Christian.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Another week, another down-to-the-wire win for Denver.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
Some chains might have their lights off for the holiday, but others, like Dollar General, are staying open for down-to-the-wire purchases.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Fresh off a historic state championship title, the Saint Mary's varsity football team is back in Stockton after a nail-biting down-to-the-wire win in Southern California against Bakersfield Christian.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Another week, another down-to-the-wire win for Denver.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
Some chains might have their lights off for the holiday, but others, like Dollar General, are staying open for down-to-the-wire purchases.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-the-wire
Adjective
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The shoes are held in place by a narrow strap that wrapped the back of the heel, while a slim stiletto and steep pitch kept the profile sharp.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
Instead, opt for small-scale seating with clean, narrow lines.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Because the Celtics, provided they close-out the 76ers, have the kind of shooters the Hawks don’t.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Qatar could deepen its already close defense ties to Turkey, and China, which is close to Iran, could play a greater diplomatic role.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In Illinois, Deppert says rising energy demand is feeding into already tight margins for farmers.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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