dead heat

noun

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
  1. tie
  2. draw
Noun
  • The outreach is part of an attempt to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after Min Aung Hlaing ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021 while serving as army chief.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of tie
Noun
  • Likewise, should the NFL match last season’s gains, the league will be looking at an average draw of 20 million viewers across all windows.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Similarly, the panel deemed Nottingham Forest were incorrectly awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool for an Alisson challenge on Neco Williams.
    — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of draw

Browse Nearby Words

deadheads
dead heat
dead heats
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Cite this Entry

“Dead heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead%20heat. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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