1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
a chess match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in marriage
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people
from all appearances those two have got a good match there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in half
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities
I can't find the match to this sock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
for a wife he wants a woman who will be his match in every aspect of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in image
something or someone that strongly resembles another
Erin is so nearly my exact match you'd think she must be my twin and not just my cousin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the discussion soon degenerated into a pointless shouting match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complement
to be the exact counterpart of
does this handbag's shade of blue match my navy blue pants? the rare blood type that exactly matched that of the transplant recipient
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in to meet
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value)
no one has ever been able to match that novel for its portrayal of the horrors of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of match
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Bolstered by a vastly superior air force and hard-to-overwhelm missile defenses, Israel is more than a match for its enemies, even Iran, and will remain so for a decade or more.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Seth Jacobson, wickedlocal.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Nobody matched all six numbers to win the $10 million jackpot, and no one matched all five numbers except for the Powerball worth $500,000.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for match
Noun
In the franchise’s inaugural game on March 14 in San Jose, a flurry of impressive saves kept Denver in it until the final whistle, despite the club playing a woman down for most of the match after Janine Sonis was sent off in the 26th minute.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Bolstered by a vastly superior air force and hard-to-overwhelm missile defenses, Israel is more than a match for its enemies, even Iran, and will remain so for a decade or more.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.
—Seth Jacobson, wickedlocal.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Nobody matched all six numbers to win the $10 million jackpot, and no one matched all five numbers except for the Powerball worth $500,000.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for match
Recent Examples of Synonyms for match
Noun
-
Outside the arena, the NCAA March Madness Fan Fest drew crowds with music, food and activities, adding to the tournament atmosphere.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
His points were the most by a Texas player in an NCAA Tournament game since Kevin Durant scored 30 against USC in the second round of the 2007 tournament.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by six children from two marriages.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Love Is Blind has produced several marriages since premiering in 2020.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The substitute also allows for the state to request a hardship waiver, something that was blocked under the original bill, from the community engagement requirements for counties with high unemployment, greater than 8% or one-and-a-half times higher than the national rate.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The entire Raptors team had 18 rebounds in the opening half.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rock stars and their equivalents in other genres often develop their craft in obscurity before being discovered; idols are apprentices, trained exhaustively by their management companies.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Short-term money market funds and cash equivalents can offer places to hide from the volatility.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fatalities data, the group says, is based on a range of sources, including sources among medical workers, publicly available images and official statements.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Whereas the intimate, snapshot-style images call us to bask in the anachronistic warmth of the analog, the profane photographs beckon toward the messy pleasures of the body.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their rivalry reached its peak in 2018, when the two engaged in an on-court brawl during a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Their relationship starts as pure rivalry, shifts into a friends-with-benefits arrangement and eventually evolves into a full romantic relationship across the six-episode first season.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The neutral color palette complements the open, airy space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Jammy berries are fruity and bright, complementing the rich chocolate pudding, topped with a cool and creamy layer that’s a refreshing contrast.—
Carolynn Carreño,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robert became a corporate lawyer, marrying the philosopher and Publicis advertising heiress Élisabeth Bleustein-Blanchet, but later shifted his focus to criminal defense.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
He had been married at least twice and had two brothers, although the siblings didn't stay in touch.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Match.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/match. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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