Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

toe-to-toe

adjective or adverb

Definition of toe-to-toe

: slugging it out at or as if at close range
  • a toe-to-toe confrontation over the new policy

See toe-to-toe defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of toe-to-toe

circa 1942

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

toe-to-toe Synonyms

Synonyms

face-to-face, head-on, head-to-head, mano a mano, one-on-one;

Learn More about toe-to-toe

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for toe-to-toe

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up toe-to-toe? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

volatile

play

subject to rapid or unexpected change

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

toe-to-toe

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games