1
as in stalking horse
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Recent Examples of dark horse
Others are not ruling out a dark horse contender.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
The Texans became a dark horse Super Bowl candidate and won their wild card-round postseason game last week because of their remarkably stingy defense.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
The re-signing of Maiava by the Trojans already counts for one of the biggest wins of the offseason, as the junior could be a dark horse Heisman Trophy contender next year.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Dec. 2025
Brennan could be a dark horse candidate in the Democratic primary, given his ties to Conroy.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dark horse
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
The Texans became a dark horse Super Bowl candidate and won their wild card-round postseason game last week because of their remarkably stingy defense.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
The re-signing of Maiava by the Trojans already counts for one of the biggest wins of the offseason, as the junior could be a dark horse Heisman Trophy contender next year.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Dec. 2025
Brennan could be a dark horse candidate in the Democratic primary, given his ties to Conroy.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dark horse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dark horse
Noun
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After the buildings were put into bankruptcy last year, Summit offered to buy dozens of buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx and Queens in the form of a stalking horse bid, meaning the transaction is subject to potentially better offers at auction.—
Jonathan Randles,
Bloomberg,
6 Jan. 2026
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The stalking horse bid is subject to better offers should any materialize in the coming weeks.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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At the start of February, the thought of TCU men’s basketball reaching the NCAA Tournament felt like a long shot.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
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Poor Leo is a long, long shot, and his odds just continue to decrease.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Abraham Lincoln, honoring Illinois’ favorite son, our 16th president, has been on station in the Arabian Sea since January.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
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The late queen’s favorite son is the first senior British royal to face arrest since King Charles I nearly 400 years ago.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In heavily Democratic Illinois, where the last Republican elected to the Senate was Mark Kirk in 2010 and the GOP’s last statewide victory came in 2014, the Democratic nominee is the prohibitive favorite in November to replace Durbin following a 30-year tenure in the Senate.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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From an iconic foundation achieving new levels of perfection to the first-ever setting powder–blush hybrid, our winners are ushering in a new generation of cult-favorites.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Japan’s Neapolitan-style pizza has set the food world aflame, showing how the country is whipping up pizza that’s just as good (if not better) than its Italian competitors.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
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Logan, who worked out on the defensive line Sunday, stood out among all the competitors and was awarded the overall MVP for the camp, which attracted more than 200 athletes to the event.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For instance, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Dubai’s president and crown prince, strolled casually through the glittering Dubai Mall shortly after hostilities began.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Pahlavi, 65, was named crown prince during his father’s coronation in 1967.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Maybe the closest thing the movie has to a thesis comes when one of the contestants flies a drone to the sisters and tries to offer a compromise via a loophole in the rules that could spare all of them, if Grace is willing to make a repugnant sacrifice.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
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After all, one of the show's guiltiest pleasures is searching each contestant's face during the reveal to suss out their true feelings.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Return has been particularly difficult for people whom the Cuban government bars from entry because of their civic activism in favor of Cuban citiezens’ rights.—
Sarah Moreno
March 16,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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First and foremost, travelers have become increasingly reliant on expert guidance to navigate fluctuating travel advisories, shifting entry requirements, and health protocols.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dark horse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dark%20horse. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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