as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition
the two brothers decided to go mano a mano in one final match to determine who was the better tennis player
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Recent Examples of mano a mano
There was no mano a mano moment between James and Bryant.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Zoë survived two blasts and one mano a mano confrontation with Beelzebub!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Though neither is exactly a revelation — in the sense that these talents were revealed long ago — each gets space for menacing monologues and mano a mano match-ups.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Surreal and dreamlike vignettes, and some laugh out loud moments of levity, break up mano a mano scenes in that hut that test the intensity of Bean and Day-Lewis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mano a mano
Zach Harper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Zoë survived two blasts and one mano a mano confrontation with Beelzebub!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Though neither is exactly a revelation — in the sense that these talents were revealed long ago — each gets space for menacing monologues and mano a mano match-ups.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Surreal and dreamlike vignettes, and some laugh out loud moments of levity, break up mano a mano scenes in that hut that test the intensity of Bean and Day-Lewis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mano a mano
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mano a mano
Adverb
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But before the Wolverines found the second-half cruise control, the game was won in the paint where Avila, a delightful college basketball player, went head-to-head (or more like head to low neck) with Mara, a future NBA player.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
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Semaglutide and tirzepatide, however, have been compared head-to-head.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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However, the federal government struck a surprise settlement with the company in early March, following a face-to-face meeting between Rapino and Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
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In most countries, approximately 1,000 people are contacted by telephone or face-to-face each year.—
Kostya Manenkov,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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But this season, Michaela must face her vulnerability head-on as she's forced to navigate her relationship to her late cousin's legacy – and to Francesca.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Footage shows the difficult and tense situations officers faced head-on, including some of the negotiations that took place before Gooden opened fire.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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