Synonyms of head-to-head

head-to-head

adverb

ˈhed-tə-ˈhed 

as in toe-to-toe

in direct confrontation or competition

it's fitting that the two best teams during the regular season will go head-to-head for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• toe-to-toe
• one-on-one
• face-to-face
• head-on
• eyeball-to-eyeball
• mano a mano

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of head-to-head

Believe it or not, head-to-head matchups don't actually determine which team is better than the other, especially when the teams are closely matched. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The two will go head-to-head in several of the night’s biggest categories, including Album of the Year and Best Solo Artist, as well as Best Alternative Release — a category returning to the ARIAs for the first time since 2016. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026

The candidates for governor meet Tuesday night at the Atlanta News First studios, their first head-to-head showdown of the general election and also their only chance to directly challenge each other before Election Day. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026

In the finale, the last two contestants face a head-to-head escape where only one can win. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

UConn’s offensive play caller and head coach will be going head-to-head with his former Toledo defensive coordinator on Saturday. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Burrow has also beaten Lawrence in both of their head-to-head matchups in the NFL. — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

An impromptu panel of thousands of judges online watched more than 120 music videos over six rounds of head-to-head musical battles, spanning genres from death metal to ska mexicano. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026

If Texas and Houston finish tied, then Houston advances based on a 9-4 head-to-head record against the Rangers this season. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026