mano a mano

adverb

ˌmä-nō-ä-ˈmä-nō How to pronounce mano a mano (audio)
Definition of mano a manonext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of mano a mano There was no mano a mano moment between James and Bryant. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 Zoë survived two blasts and one mano a mano confrontation with Beelzebub! — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025 Though neither is exactly a revelation — in the sense that these talents were revealed long ago — each gets space for menacing monologues and mano a mano match-ups. — Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Dec. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mano a mano
  1. head-to-head
  2. face-to-face
  3. head-on
Adverb
  • The head-to-head record heavily favors Portugal, who have 7 wins in 11 meetings.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 2 July 2026
  • The most tantalizing head-to-head in this half of the draw is still the potential quarterfinal between Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of head-to-head
Adverb
  • Ready California has reached more than 16 million Californians through face-to-face outreach, according to the governor’s office.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • The energy and insights generated through face-to-face exchange are truly impossible to replicate in virtual environments.
    — C200, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of face-to-face
Adverb
  • 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
  • On a new episode of Call Her Daddy, Wilde digs in, addressing many of those controversies head-on while eliding others.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Definition of head-on

Browse Nearby Words

mannishness
mano a mano
man of letters
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Cite this Entry

“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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