as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors
a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant
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Recent Examples of down-to-the-wire
The Quad 3 loss was the second such defeat of the season for the Huskies, who suffered a similar down-to-the-wire loss to Colorado in the second game of the Maui Invitational in November.
—
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2025
So, what’s another down-to-the-wire finish for this team?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Following Kansas City's win over the Buffalo Bills in a down-to-the-wire matchup on Sunday, Jan. 26, Swift and Kelce, both 35, were seen exiting the game through the tunnels at Arrowhead Stadium.
—Natasha Dye, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
With two elite quarterbacks, top-tier offenses, and strong defenses, this game has all the ingredients for a down-to-the-wire finish.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2025
So, what’s another down-to-the-wire finish for this team?
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Following Kansas City's win over the Buffalo Bills in a down-to-the-wire matchup on Sunday, Jan. 26, Swift and Kelce, both 35, were seen exiting the game through the tunnels at Arrowhead Stadium.
—Natasha Dye, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
With two elite quarterbacks, top-tier offenses, and strong defenses, this game has all the ingredients for a down-to-the-wire finish.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down-to-the-wire
Adjective
-
On Saturday, the narrow field caused both teams to adapt to tighter spaces and quicker play.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The plain and active meaning of the word cannot be diluted by its constriction, as the government would have it, to a narrow term of art.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And Amanda Marsalis and April Blair are some of my closest friends now.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
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Famous detective Sherlock Holmes faces a case where the lives of his closest friends are at risk.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Traction alopecia Anything that involves repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight style should be avoided.—
Shannon Lawlor,
Glamour,
14 Apr. 2025
-
There’s no tighter part of the property for patrons than Amen Corner, tens of thousands pressed together to watch as McIlroy’s ball flew through the air once, then twice.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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