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
Still the competition seems like perfect Tom–versus–Aaron, mano a mano, gay against gay.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 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
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 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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Thayer is now ahead of the Lions in the league standings due to the head-to-head victory and a strong finish to the year could put the program in a bowl game.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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Memphis has a worse loss than South Florida, but the Tigers have a head-to-head win and a victory over an SEC team in Arkansas.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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But while a Halloween marathon is a seasonal must, trying to figure out how to watch all 13 films can feel as daunting as coming face-to-face with the Shape himself.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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However, the saga unearths new layers in the second season as Natalia shares her harrowing experiences with her adoptive parents and has a face-to-face confrontation with Michael.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The 18-year-old continued on in the sedan, before crashing head-on with another pickup truck, driven by 21-year-old Scott Hakes, Action News Jax reported.—
Lindsay Kimble,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Neff is accused of driving a Dodge pickup the wrong direction down the highway in Carneys Point Township, crashing head-on into the teenagers’ car.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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