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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of mano a mano 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
  • That same poll reported that in a hypothetical head-to-head between Cuomo and Mamdani, Cuomo’s numbers would jump up to 44% and Mamdani’s would rise to 48%, closing Mamdani’s lead to only four points.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The Yankees went 94-68 too, but Toronto held the tiebreaker by virtue of its 8-5 head-to-head record against New York.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • From digital strategies to face-to-face deal-making, circulation remains a priority for organizers, with initiatives like the popular Re>Birth program, now in its third edition.
    Lise Pedersen, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
  • For maximum safety, aim to confirm with the recipient face-to-face on details of the transaction, including the amount and the payment method.
    Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Huawei, China’s tech powerhouse, now competes head-on against Apple with smartphones powered by its own chips.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Whichever the case, the stuff needs to be dealt with head-on, and there’s no better time to do so than in the present.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!