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
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Recent Examples of dead heat
Two polls released over the weekend suggest their races could be tightening—with one poll showing Sherrill and Ciattarelli locked in a dead heat.
—
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
At the time, the match was in a dead heat with the third set tied 5-5 after Sabalenka lost three straight games to Pegula.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
In recent seasons, the rivalry has been a dead heat, with each program claiming two victories in the last fourmeetings.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
As of today the Red Sox and Tigers have the same record, so if Detroit loses its series to Cleveland and falls out of first place in the AL Central, the two clubs could conceivably be in a dead heat for one of the last Wild Card spots.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead heat
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
At the time, the match was in a dead heat with the third set tied 5-5 after Sabalenka lost three straight games to Pegula.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
In recent seasons, the rivalry has been a dead heat, with each program claiming two victories in the last fourmeetings.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
As of today the Red Sox and Tigers have the same record, so if Detroit loses its series to Cleveland and falls out of first place in the AL Central, the two clubs could conceivably be in a dead heat for one of the last Wild Card spots.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead heat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead heat
Noun
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Rocky, meanwhile, wore a black double-breasted coat with a tie-waist, a spotty gray-blue shirt and coordinating patterned tie, navy slacks, square toe black loafers, a large Bottega Veneta tote, and Ray-Bans.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
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Obed noted the cultural ties between Canada and Greenland’s Inuit indigenous peoples.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Hoosier Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
2 Feb. 2026
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The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Detroit Free Press Staff,
Freep.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dead heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead%20heat. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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