top dog

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 top dog He was recognized as one of the best mushers in Alaska, while Togo was often considered the top dog in sledding. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025 While New York has been seen as the favorite to land Alonso, this report indicates the Mets are no longer the top dogs in the sweepstakes. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 For some teams, a dark-horse mind-set might be better for strategic reasons: underdogs tend to focus on the positive outcome (winning), while top dogs tend to avoid negative outcomes (not losing), which could explain why underdogs sometimes play looser and with an eye to higher risks and rewards. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025 While smash burgers remain, ironically, top dog within the fast food universe, one unsung iteration, the Oklahoma smash burger, is finally getting its due. Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for top dog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for top dog
Noun
  • The violence of the last several days has laid bare challenges Syria’s new rulers had, up until last week, largely contained or met: resistance by Assad regime remnants, sectarian revenge attacks, and maintaining discipline over a patchwork of armed militant groups and hard-line foreign fighters.
    Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Mar. 2025
  • At the witch’s palace, Elli bonds with the Winkies, persuading them that serving a cruel ruler is unjust, and convinces them to rise up and free themselves.
    Christin Bohnke, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Rancho Bernardo—With returning state placer and Division 1 titlist Mary Snider (140) plus Division champ Maisen Vesco (145) leading the way, the Broncos qualified six wrestlers into the Masters meet.
    Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Brooke Strauss of Glastonbury (CT) was the top placer from New England, finishing 22nd overall at 18:32.7.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • This team has cast off its familiar underdog mantle and embraced being the overdog.
    Jeré Longman, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023
  • It’s always funny when a show about underdogs is … an overdog.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2021

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/top%20dog. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!