neck and neck

Definition of neck and necknext
as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors a neck and neck finish in which only a fraction of a second separated the winner from the runner-up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for neck and neck
Adjective
  • Postseason football is defined by grit and narrow margins.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Industry experts cautioned that a military confrontation could provoke Iran to choke off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that that connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea and through which nearly a third of the world's seaborne crude flows.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 12 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
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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Cite this Entry

“Neck and neck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neck%20and%20neck. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.

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