dead heats

Definition of dead heatsnext
plural of dead heat
as in ties
a situation in which neither participant in a contest, competition, or struggle comes out ahead of the other the horses crossed the finish line in a dead heat

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead heats
Noun
  • Traditionally reliant on French institutional funding, the event now confronts an uncertain future as Mali’s military government severs ties with its former colonial overlord.
    Smooth Nzewi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The joint move from Kennedy and Zeldin comes as activists from Kennedy’s MAHA movement have forged fragile political ties with the EPA but expressed frustration with lack of action on their priorities, including pesticide regulation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Potter replaced Jon Dahl Tomasson after the country finished bottom of a World Cup qualifying group involving Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia with a record of two draws and four defeats.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Still, each destination has its own unique draws.
    Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Dead heats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead%20heats. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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