as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition
mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toe-to-toe
Adverb
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The worldwide dance tournament hosted 16 dancers from across the country in a dance contest featuring eclectic styles and moves as the crowd judged the best dancers in head-to-head competitions all night.—
Dominick Williams
April 26,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026 -
After a head-to-head collision, Huitema was taken off as a concussion substitute in the 72nd minute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Perkins, who is CEO of Canva, addressed head-on the concerns among many who work in creative industries about the potential for AI to supplant human labor.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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Figures of Crisis makes productive use of this commonplace idea by tackling it head-on and turning it inside out.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Baby boomers—who currently occupy a significant share of managerial and executive roles—built their careers inside a workplace culture defined by formality, hierarchy, and personal relationships cultivated face-to-face.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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After Hawks center Tony Bradley was called for an offensive foul for setting a hard screen on Alvarado, the veteran McCollum got into it with the scrappy Knicks guard, jawing face-to-face in a moment that underscored the growing chippiness in the series.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Toe-to-toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toe-to-toe. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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