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Recent Examples of top dog
Somewhat remarkably, despite producing some of the best homegrown talent of the last four decades, this is the first time Boston has ever been the top dog in the publication’s annual preseason grades, which began in 1984.
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Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for top dog
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for top dog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for top dog
Noun
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Your celestial ruler, Mercury, is retrograde and slipping back into Pisces — your 10th house of authority, career and public persona — urging you to take a second look at your professional goals and dreams.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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His interest in sports analytics comes from his math teacher father, who handed out rulers to Trick-or-Treaters each year.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Hancock was an All-Region football player and two-time Top 3 state placer in wrestling, according to the outlet.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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This team has cast off its familiar underdog mantle and embraced being the overdog.—
Jeré Longman,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2023
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It’s always funny when a show about underdogs is … an overdog.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/top%20dog. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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