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

Relevance

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

Because the Zoroastrian group in India has stood outside the principal religious rivalries between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, Lenny’s household initially offers an unaligned vantage on the city’s disintegration.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
The 'Stans want to maximize trade and stay out of geopolitical rivalries.

— Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

The watchdog system identifies when an AI approaches situations that have not been sufficiently verified, allowing control to shift to backup systems.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Mixed signals, vague expectations or something as simple as literal exhaustion could complicate situations.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of situations

Noun

The organization, which is responsible for cleaning up the messes after superhero battles, has something that Jean wants locked inside a vault.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
Boxing enthusiasts eagerly await an explosive showdown as Lamont Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) battles William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC lightweight championship.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

There have also been growing concerns that AI companies are propping each other up through a web of funding deals, with Nvidia at the heart of those worries.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
That single habit, repeated across thousands of deals, is the real reason influencer rates keep climbing.

— Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of deals

Noun

This systemic difference leads to vastly higher capitalization and ticket prices on Broadway, indicating that its financial struggles will continue without significant policy intervention and public funding.

— Katie North, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
As for his personal life, Eric has been open about his struggles with substance abuse.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 July 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

The charging document also cited one of the many messages Dumarce sent to Cole, including some previously cited by Cole that included threats with pictures of her children.

— Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Anticipate major developments, as the Lesnar-Femi clash is highly watched, potentially shaping future title pictures.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of pictures

Noun

Outside of the tax world, one of the biggest stories focused on FIFA’s plan to sell a stake in a new company that would control the commercial operations of the World Cup and other major competitions.

— Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The pivot came after widespread backlash and vows from all 55 members of UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) to boycott future FIFA competitions if the plans went through.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.

— Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Physicality is an important aspect in winning such duels, but Stones’ timing is often impeccable in the crucial moments.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of duels

Browse Nearby Words

ball game

ball games

balling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ball games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball%20games. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ball games

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes