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
Another super-small spread (-1 for the Jags) hints at down-to-the-wire showmanship.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Given the precedent set by U.S. President Donald Trump for last-minute deadline changes and down-to-the-wire deals, that does leave room for the situation to change.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Politico: Inside the drama of Ottawa’s down-to-the-wire trade negotiations with the White House.
Hit the brakes: Trump’s tariff strategy will face a major test in federal court on Thursday, just hours before a new round of levies is set to take effect.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 29 July 2025
There is always some down-to-the-wire confusion when high-profile companies are fighting for their financial futures.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Given the precedent set by U.S. President Donald Trump for last-minute deadline changes and down-to-the-wire deals, that does leave room for the situation to change.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Politico: Inside the drama of Ottawa’s down-to-the-wire trade negotiations with the White House.
Hit the brakes: Trump’s tariff strategy will face a major test in federal court on Thursday, just hours before a new round of levies is set to take effect.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 29 July 2025
There is always some down-to-the-wire confusion when high-profile companies are fighting for their financial futures.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-the-wire
Adjective
-
ClassPass, the fitness subscription service, illustrates how narrow the line can be between improving conversion and alienating users.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Portland was able to build that narrow halftime lead behind a 33-15 advantage from three-point range.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump has formed close alliances with conservative tech figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and investor David Sacks, who serves as the White House AI and crypto czar.—
Joseph Menn The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Discussions with partners, spouses and close friends will be clear-headed and direct.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a major step forward in Japan’s long and cautious return to nuclear power and comes as the country braces for tight electricity supplies ahead of the summer peak.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Those looking for an elevated alternative to loose sweatpants, restrictive jeans, and tight leggings will appreciate their lightweight and airy feel.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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