as in personally
in person and usually privately
met tête-à-tête with the student's parents to discuss his disciplinary problems in class
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
had a quick tête-à-tête with my neighbor before heading off to work
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Recent Examples of tête-à-tête
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Another video captured Xi, Modi and Putin engaging in a lighthearted tete-a-tete on the Summit’s sidelines.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
Aside from that tete-a-tete, there was some superb quality on show.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
These two have gone tete-a-tete against the top pair and are starting to come out on top.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Now, though, both candidates will have White House records to back up, leaving it unclear whether either will be able to seize the offensive -- and if one or the other will end up stuck on their back foot for the 90-minute tete-a-tete.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 26 June 2024
Noun
Later, there is caper-like comedy at a funeral home, which then sobers in a poignant tete-a-tete between Yun-ji and Min-yeong, astute revelations of the broken homes that shaped our young heroines, a climactic riot of slapstick destruction at an emergency school meeting and more.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Another video captured Xi, Modi and Putin engaging in a lighthearted tete-a-tete on the Summit’s sidelines.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 2 Sep. 2025
Aside from that tete-a-tete, there was some superb quality on show.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 28 July 2025
These two have gone tete-a-tete against the top pair and are starting to come out on top.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Now, though, both candidates will have White House records to back up, leaving it unclear whether either will be able to seize the offensive -- and if one or the other will end up stuck on their back foot for the 90-minute tete-a-tete.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 26 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tête-à-tête
Adverb
-
There turned out to be something satisfying about the discipline involved in creating a personally meaningful collection within these constraints.—
Kenneth Turan,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Others shared messages of sympathy despite not knowing Nicholson personally.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The chat additions are a subtle change since the existing Google Assistant can already pull up a list of nearby restaurants, for example.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Even in chat or calls, people go through ridiculous flows.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The van reaches home ground and no one talks and the only sound along that final stretch is El Camello slapping himself to scare away mosquitoes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Senators are engaging in behind-the-scenes talks to reopen the government.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tête-à-tête.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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