as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of face-off
Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
While it is considered one of the greatest games in World Cup history, West Germany's tense face-off against France in 1982 is also remembered as the event where one of the most harrowing incidents took place.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Madhulika Pathak, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Flame-throwing Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski faced off with 35-year-old Braves starter Martín Pérez and his sinker, which was clocked at 89 mph.
—Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
The two candidates topped a crowded field of gubernatorial hopefuls in the June 2 primary, earning them the opportunity to face-off in the general election.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
While it is considered one of the greatest games in World Cup history, West Germany's tense face-off against France in 1982 is also remembered as the event where one of the most harrowing incidents took place.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Verb
The greatest disparity in this year’s group stage, however, came on Tuesday, when Iraq also had the misfortune of facing off with Haaland.
—Madhulika Pathak, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Flame-throwing Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski faced off with 35-year-old Braves starter Martín Pérez and his sinker, which was clocked at 89 mph.
—Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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The story being told has centered around the Aerial Assassin, but could AEW shock everyone by taking the rivalry in a different direction?—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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The biggest rivalry in the WNBA delivered.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Roy, a deputy state attorney general, finished first in the city attorney primary by a wide margin and will compete against John McKinney, a deputy district attorney, in the runoff.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
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Three centuries later, the librarians of Alexandria took charge of the text, collating competing versions, marking doubtful lines, imposing a measure of order on the teeming verses.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Noun
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After several years as an orphan, Pumphrey died in a South Caroline pine forest on August 16, 1780, in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Aegon was severely injured by Aemond and Vhagar in that battle.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The report generally contends that a single-payer system would, by eliminating the paperwork and other aspects of the current system, be the most efficient from a cost/benefit basis.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
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Experts contended that the progressive candidates could split the vote, opening the door for McAdams to win.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Noun
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The African team possessed the ball 52% of the time, had 563 accurate passes (92%) to Argentina’s 504 (90%) and held a 43-39 advantage in duels won.—
Darren Sabedra,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
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What gets all the attention is the duel between me and a few of them.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Verb
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.—
Valerie Gonzalez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
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Callihan had trouble picking it up, allowing McCarthy to race around the bases and beat the relay throw home.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Measles has spread as a result of travel to international sports competitions before.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Their visit coincides with an event marking one year to the start of the Invictus Games, the biennial sporting competition Harry founded more than a decade ago.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
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But our three-way confrontation was still far from over.—
Bob Brody,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
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Muldur was in the middle of the confrontation in stoppage time in the first half that led to Galarza's ejection.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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