Definition of toe-to-toenext
as in head-to-head
in direct confrontation or competition mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for toe-to-toe
Adverb
  • Malawi scored and conceded four goals, Nigeria three, and Zambia two, leaving them still tied with head-to-head goal differentials of zero.
    Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Excluding the one pinpoint pass Maye completed against him in the two-minute drill, Gonzalez didn’t allow a catch and won all three head-to-head reps against Brown in a 2-on-2 red-zone period pitting receiver and cornerbacks.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • 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, 26 June 2026
  • Volvo shared some new crash footage with Popular Science, showing how their design choices protect drivers even during head-on moose collisions.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026
Adverb
  • But nothing has quite captured the pure animalististic terror of the moment in this episode when Rhaena, Daemon, Rhaenyra and Addam all come face-to-face, dragon-to-dragon.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Minnesota rally will also bring the movement face-to-face with one of the WNBA’s most prominent supporters of transgender inclusion.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 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

“Toe-to-toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toe-to-toe. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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