as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition
the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit
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Recent Examples of head-on
In 2013, part of Cunningham’s family was involved in a horrific head-on car crash on State Route 52 with a wrong-way driver.
—
John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The congressman was a late entry into what had been a head-on contest between Cornyn and Paxton.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Lost Lambs features an all-white cast in an anonymous American suburb, which excuses Cash from having to engage head-on with race.
—Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
These photos capture how Varvarych has tackled life head-on.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-on
John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The congressman was a late entry into what had been a head-on contest between Cornyn and Paxton.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Lost Lambs features an all-white cast in an anonymous American suburb, which excuses Cash from having to engage head-on with race.
—Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
These photos capture how Varvarych has tackled life head-on.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for head-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for head-on
Adverb
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Monday, March 9 Vote for Cincinnati's Favorite Beer Beers from 32 local breweries go head-to-head on a March Madness-style bracket.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
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Already, in head-to-head diagnostic comparisons, generative AI performs at levels comparable to human clinicians.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Residents did have questions about the site plan, but face-to-face with the developers — many of them for the first time — the meeting often became tense and emotional.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
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Local physical branches still have a purpose when customers need face-to-face expertise, help with complex paperwork or reassurance during major financial decisions.—
Barbara White,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Head-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/head-on. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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