as in toe-to-toe
in direct confrontation or competition
it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of head-to-head
Doctors will get a closer look at how Lilly and Novo's pills compare in the coming months when Lilly releases the results of a head-to-head trial of the two, Lilly's Chief Scientific Officer Dan Skovronsky said in an exclusive interview with CNBC.
—
Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and husband Jay-Z will once again go head-to-head — this time at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The all-day tournament brings 24 professional and Olympic-level beach volleyball players from across the USA to form six teams — three men’s and three women’s — who will compete head-to-head for a cash prize of $100,000.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Rangers fans should be rooting for the Bronx Bombers in their series since the team holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Red Sox but not the Yankees.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-to-head
Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and husband Jay-Z will once again go head-to-head — this time at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The all-day tournament brings 24 professional and Olympic-level beach volleyball players from across the USA to form six teams — three men’s and three women’s — who will compete head-to-head for a cash prize of $100,000.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Rangers fans should be rooting for the Bronx Bombers in their series since the team holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Red Sox but not the Yankees.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for head-to-head
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-to-head
Adverb
-
Sandmann, then a Covington Catholic student, was at the center of a media firestorm after a video showed him face-to-face with a Native American elder.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Once both animals are comfortable, a face-to-face introduction can occur.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Arizona is honoring the lives of two fallen firefighters following a tragic head-on collision near Show Low.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Through this head-on approach, Gilbert is a master of upending audience expectations.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Head-to-head.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-to-head. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share