toe-to-toe

adjective or adverb

: slugging it out at or as if at close range
a toe-to-toe confrontation over the new policy

Examples of toe-to-toe in a Sentence

mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ana de Armas Kicks Ass and Meets Keanu Reeves' John Wick in Eye-Popping 'Ballerina' Trailer In a way, the actress — who healed quickly and was back in the swing of things, going toe-to-toe with de Armas — has her teenage son to blame for her minor medical ordeal. Eric Andersson, People.com, 6 June 2025 On Thursday, Paramount unveiled new behind-the-scenes footage of the stunt, which occurs in the film after Cruise's Ethan Hunt goes toe-to-toe with Gabriel (Esai Morales) in a high-flying biplane sequence where Ethan transfers from one airplane to another. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 5 June 2025 Harvard University is going toe-to-toe against the administration in a high-stakes legal clash and many students have been left in a state of uncertainty as their futures are clouded by the White House's actions. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 Game developer Barbara Truelove mashes up B-movie monsters with 24th-century sci-fi in her latest space adventure, which sees a sentient ship AI go toe-to-toe with Dracula. Natalie Zutter june 2, Literary Hub, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for toe-to-toe

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toe-to-toe was circa 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Toe-to-toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toe-to-toe. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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