horse race

noun

Definition of horse racenext
1
as in ball game

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in photo finish

Related Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse race
  1. ball game
  2. photo finish
  3. confrontation
  4. toss-up
  5. war
  6. duel
  7. combat
  8. contention
Noun
  • Root’s appointment allows Harry Brook, the Test vice-captain under Stokes, to continue developing his captaincy skills in the white-ball game ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The Mariners have also learned what works best when inviting creators to experience a ball game.
    — Emma Cortes Ellendt, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of ball game
Noun
  • This is a very similar route to stage 11 from the 2024 Tour de France, won by Vingegaard in a photo finish ahead of Pogačar.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Wednesday's episode of the long-running primetime game show came down to a photo finish between returning champion Dan Laine from Jersey City, AJ Maroney from Boston, and Katelyn Mueller-McLean from San Francisco.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
Definition of photo finish
Noun
  • On Memorial Day, 1927, when Fred was twenty-one, he was arrested for refusing to disperse during a violent confrontation between police and a band of white-hooded Klansmen in Queens; he was released shortly after.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Tyrell Scott was stabbed in the chest during a confrontation on Riverdale Ave.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontation
Noun
  • Cook Political Report labeled the race as a toss-up ahead of the primary, but following the results switched its analysis to reflect a slight Democratic advantage.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 22 July 2026
  • But as much as the president and his allies hope that Biggs, 67, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, can flip the swing state, the toss-up status of the governor's race has evaporated in the Arizona heat.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 July 2026
Definition of toss-up
Noun
  • Both areas saw heavy fighting in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and are currently occupied by Israeli forces.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Saudi Arabian government has been dealing with the economic fallout from the war between the US and Iran, which launched late in February, and the subsequent effects on the oil markets that are so lucrative to the Saudi government.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • Rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña won the duel against Milwaukee Brewers sensation Jacob Misiorowski in the Angels’ 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.
    — Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Definition of duel
Noun
  • Lieutenant Colonel of the Marine Corps Reserves, Iraq combat veteran, and former CIA case officer David Williams is also running for the Republican nomination.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Chinese Type 055 is designed as a multi-role combat platform capable of air defense, anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine operations, and long-range strike missions.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of combat
Noun
  • With San Francisco clearly out of contention, the team has no incentive to rush the 33-year-old Chapman’s return to the field.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • LaVine appeared in only 39 games last season before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right pinky finger, a move seemingly hastened by the Kings again being eliminated early from playoff contention.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of contention
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.

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horsepower
horse race
horse races
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Cite this Entry

“Horse race.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20race. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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