Definition of toe-to-toenext
as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toe-to-toe
Adverb
  • Now, in a new head-to-head clinical study of the three diets, researchers found that people with obesity who lost weight on the keto diet saw better metabolic outcomes than their peers who lost a similar amount of weight on another diet.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And, if teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Whichever the case, the stuff needs to be dealt with head-on, and there’s no better time to do so than in the present.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
  • Volvo shared some new crash footage with Popular Science, showing how their design choices protect drivers even during head-on moose collisions.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026
Adverb
  • What happens next are the most dramatic and twisted moments of his life, as these mysterious events bring Sam face-to-face with his younger self.
    Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • No one should have to drive downtown simply to sign a document and never actually talk to someone who can answer their questions, face-to-face, in detail.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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

“Toe-to-toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toe-to-toe. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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