BALL GAMES Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

ball games

noun

plural of ball game

as in rivalries

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another I'm still in this ball game, so don't count me out yet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in situations

position with regard to conditions and circumstances with the new regulations in place, investors are facing a whole new ball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ball games Stop by the visitor center to check out volleyballs, basketballs, Frisbees, cornhole sets, baseballs and bats, or ladder ball games. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 4 June 2026 In addition to the 100-plus food vendors, there are also retail vendors, bungee jumping trampolines and giant inflatable water ball games. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026 Set the scene Arriving here at golden hour, past a paddock of horses and a wildflower field in which children are playing ball games, feels impossibly idyllic. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 The two fans each have enough battery life to last through outdoor activities like ball games and day trips to Disney, or to keep you cool during a long car ride or a medium-length flight. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026 In addition to the youth ball games, the family visited some spring-training ballparks, including the one in Surprise, Arizona, where the Royals train. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026 At least not as long as the Knicks are winning ball games. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026 From sports and ball games to jewelry-making and creative workshops, there is something to delight every child. — Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025 After approval from church leadership, chairwoman Lisa Stocco infused the event with more than 20 Gophers football players serving as guest pitchers and coaches for the event’s centerpiece whiffle ball games. — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball games

Noun

At a time when the news cycle seems to serve up nothing but conflict, crisis and woe, the World Cup offers shelter, a truly international event in which conflict is defined by long-term sports rivalries and questionable referee decisions.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA's greatest rivalries into two of the game's greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.

— Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

Instead, language barriers and limited information can hinder their ability to navigate legal situations effectively, Kittaka said.

— Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
That probably has something to do with Peter waking up in weird situations with his organic spider-mutations happening.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of situations

Noun

By the time Apple wins its lawsuit against OpenAI, the decisive battles in the war might already be over.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 11 July 2026
Against Brazil, Solbakken’s side worked hard to leave their physically intimidating centre-forwards in one-on-one battles for long passes in behind.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

Los Angeles and Southern California are emerging as power centers in this surge, with nearly $8 billion invested across 207 deals, led by space and defense firms such as Anduril Industries and Impulse Space.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Spectrum is the most obvious example right now, and recent deals show how much buyers will pay to lock it up.

— Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of deals

Noun

Through speeches, chants and signs, demonstrators drew a line between the struggles local facility employees face and those carried by farmworkers in the Philippines.

— Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
DeGrom suffered first-inning struggles before settling in, his pattern this season.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

Corona Centennial, which doesn’t usually perform well in passing competitions (the Huskies like to let their running game set up the pass), started the morning 4-0 and didn’t lose until its final game.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
For many teams, however, time was limited by players arriving late from club competitions, creating a delicate balance between adapting sufficiently while still reaching the tournament physically and mentally fresh.

— Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

As with many Latin American and African teams, Paraguay defend deep and are extremely physical in duels and aerial battles.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack.

— Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of duels

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ball game

ball games

balling

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“Ball games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball%20games. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ball games

noun

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