sparring partner
noun
1
: someone who helps a boxer practice : someone a boxer spars with for training
2
: a person that someone has serious but friendly arguments with
They have been political sparring partners for years.
Examples of sparring partner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Innovation stems from shifting from prompting (treating AI as a task worker) to curating (treating AI as a sparring partner).
—
Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Here’s exactly what happened: Verstappen’s Lap 1 chaos: Makes a great start from second on the grid in his Red Bull, quickly chopping off his old sparring partner Lando Norris in the process.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Since June's departure from Gilead at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, Lydia's picked up a new sparring partner in Aunt Vidala, the second-in-command at Lydia's rigorous pre-marital prep school for girls.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
These moments show students evaluating AI output critically and treating it almost as a sparring partner, rather than simply copying it.
—Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The Duke of Hastings and his sparring partner, Will Mondrich, look absolutely dashing — if a bit disheveled, on the Duke's part — in this shot of the pair.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Gilmore, it should be noted, was hardly Edelman’s only sparring partner in those days.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Jimmy, one of the lightest heavyweight champions ever, was a sparring partner with Muhammad Ali.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Younger by a year and a half, Rahaman Ali gave up his own boxing career to become a chauffeur, sparring partner, gofer, chef and right-hand man for older brother Muhammad.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Aug. 2025
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Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Here’s exactly what happened: Verstappen’s Lap 1 chaos: Makes a great start from second on the grid in his Red Bull, quickly chopping off his old sparring partner Lando Norris in the process.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Since June's departure from Gilead at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, Lydia's picked up a new sparring partner in Aunt Vidala, the second-in-command at Lydia's rigorous pre-marital prep school for girls.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
These moments show students evaluating AI output critically and treating it almost as a sparring partner, rather than simply copying it.
—Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The Duke of Hastings and his sparring partner, Will Mondrich, look absolutely dashing — if a bit disheveled, on the Duke's part — in this shot of the pair.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Gilmore, it should be noted, was hardly Edelman’s only sparring partner in those days.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Jimmy, one of the lightest heavyweight champions ever, was a sparring partner with Muhammad Ali.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Younger by a year and a half, Rahaman Ali gave up his own boxing career to become a chauffeur, sparring partner, gofer, chef and right-hand man for older brother Muhammad.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sparring partner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparring%20partner. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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