dark horse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 42-year-old dark horse contender has recently made more efforts in courting the Latino vote through meme-y internet tactics and has even employed Spanish to create a new nickname for Bass — “Karen Bassura.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Blyth also called Rieder a bit of a "dark horse" on whether his decisions would shift from Powell's.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

At the same time, Darnold has emerged as both a dark horse to be this season’s MVP and an incredible bargain: His $33.5 million a year contract is far cheaper than the game’s highest-paid passers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

By some accounts, he was a dark horse in a conclave race which many predicted would deliver unto us a Pope Pizzaballa.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

This card, the one with the dark man on a dark horse, this means jealousy, and this one, sorrow.

From "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros