dead heat

Definition of dead heatnext
as in tie
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 dead heat The 39-year-old has led Argentina to the World Cup’s round of 16 and his seven goals have put him in a dead heat with Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot trophy. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 7 July 2026 By then the Gallup poll had us in a dead heat. Chris Matthews, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026 The result marks a significant shift from a late-January survey showing the two candidates locked in a dead heat. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2026 If two horses hit the wire at the exact same time it’s called a dead heat. Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dead heat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead heat
Noun
  • Samba has ties to the Brazilian Carnival tradition, so Anna picks out a floral fabric and designs a skirt with feather-style panels that will move around with the dancer.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • While Liang’s ties with the government have strengthened, his tech bets appear to be a convergence with Beijing’s priorities rather than state-directed, Wang noted.
    Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Despite being technically undefeated — two wins and two unspectacular draws, as Alice and Beard are quick to point out — the players seem more enthused for what their respective groups have done rather than the team’s collective achievement.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Serena is not set to play singles, but Venus, 46, received a wild card for that draw, too.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dead heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead%20heat. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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