as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition
the two brothers decided to go mano a mano in one final match to determine who was the better tennis player
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mano a mano
There was no mano a mano moment between James and Bryant.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Zoë survived two blasts and one mano a mano confrontation with Beelzebub!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Though neither is exactly a revelation — in the sense that these talents were revealed long ago — each gets space for menacing monologues and mano a mano match-ups.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Surreal and dreamlike vignettes, and some laugh out loud moments of levity, break up mano a mano scenes in that hut that test the intensity of Bean and Day-Lewis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mano a mano
Zach Harper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Zoë survived two blasts and one mano a mano confrontation with Beelzebub!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Though neither is exactly a revelation — in the sense that these talents were revealed long ago — each gets space for menacing monologues and mano a mano match-ups.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Surreal and dreamlike vignettes, and some laugh out loud moments of levity, break up mano a mano scenes in that hut that test the intensity of Bean and Day-Lewis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mano a mano
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mano a mano
Adverb
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The Lakers, who are now tied with the Denver Nuggets (50-28), record-wise, own the head-to-head tiebreakers over the Nuggets and the fifth-place Houston Rockets (48-29).—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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When Illinois takes on UConn on Saturday in the opening semifinal of the Final Four in Indy, the Illini coach and ringleader will go head-to-head against Dan Hurley, a two-time national champion whose fiery reputation makes Underwood’s demeanor look almost passive in comparison.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The two sides have been exchanging messages via intermediaries in third-party countries including Pakistan, but no face-to-face talks have been arranged.—
Jay Ganglani,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
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This stems from multiple violent incidents involving police in Baltimore County within the last year, including two instances in which John Haley came face-to-face with officers.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Authorities in northern Minnesota believe alcohol was a factor in a head-on car crash Sunday evening that left two adults dead and two children injured.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Instead, Power drove through the gravel and head-on into the barrier.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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