as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant
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Recent Examples of down-to-the-wire
However, here are three positive takeaways from the down-to-the-wire 87-85 Mavericks victory.
—
Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That also meant there was a flurry of activity in Sacramento last week, with legislators giving the down-to-the-wire OK for bills pertaining to housing, worker safety, public transit projects and more.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 9 June 2025
In a down-to-the-wire race among the six iconic Wienermobiles that serve as goodwill ambassadors for Oscar Mayer, the hot dog-on-wheels representing the Southeast proved to be the big dog on Carb Day ahead of Sunday’s running of the Indianapolis 500.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
But the film also has plenty of down-to-the-wire tension, as when Benji (Simon Pegg) directs a bomb defusion through the fog of his collapsing lung.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That also meant there was a flurry of activity in Sacramento last week, with legislators giving the down-to-the-wire OK for bills pertaining to housing, worker safety, public transit projects and more.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 9 June 2025
In a down-to-the-wire race among the six iconic Wienermobiles that serve as goodwill ambassadors for Oscar Mayer, the hot dog-on-wheels representing the Southeast proved to be the big dog on Carb Day ahead of Sunday’s running of the Indianapolis 500.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
But the film also has plenty of down-to-the-wire tension, as when Benji (Simon Pegg) directs a bomb defusion through the fog of his collapsing lung.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-the-wire
Adjective
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United, some of whose senior leadership team, including its chief executive, Scott Kirby, came from American, has done the opposite and is in the process of adding thousands of screens to narrow-body planes both new and old, including Bluetooth technology for wireless headphones.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
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The Fitzgerald was designed to carry as much cargo as possible and still fit through the narrow locks at Sault Ste.—
Kevin Duchschere,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Even as American political polarization has intensified over the last eight years, both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that an increasingly powerful Beijing poses an economic, technological, and security threat to Washington and its close allies.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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On the series, JD and Michelle have grown closer, but in real life, Todd is married to Jordan Wilcox Lasance.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Other surveys suggest a much tighter race.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Heat therapy is most beneficial for pain caused by tight or stiff muscles.—
RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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