1
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
Example Sentences
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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
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
-
The narrative tracks Maurício (Reymond), a retired player striving to establish a new career as an agent in the aggressive football business while managing industry rivalries, family tensions, and the legacy of his past disappointments.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
-
The diary was still treated primarily as evidence of motive, evidence about the boys, their rivalries, their jealousy, their emotional states.—
Kate Casey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
That includes his interior pass rush, too, which he was asked to do a few times in third-and-long situations in 2025 when the Panthers employed their speed rush package.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
-
But just as machine learning models generally struggle with things outside the range of their training data, there may be situations where a model’s predictions will fail.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Situated on Route 33 in Manalapan, this state park has preserved the 18th-century landscape of one of the biggest battles of the Revolutionary War, where the Continental Army ambushed the British army along their route from Philadelphia to New York City.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Both King Charles and the Princess of Wales have been open about their respective cancer battles, using their platforms to drive public awareness.—
Stephanie Bridger-Linning,
Vanity Fair,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Keep scrolling for more can’t-miss closeout deals at Wayfair.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
Leon Kalvaria, Citigroup’s global chair for banking, appeared on Fox Business News early Wednesday, where he was asked about Citi’s position as the leading advisor on power sector deals.—
Assiatou Hann,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Ohtani was back to a full starter’s workload for the first time since 2023, even mentioning fatigue in his postgame interview after his second start of the season, and before games was working to address his offensive struggles.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the loss but downplayed any worries about the team’s struggles after the game.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Noun
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On a recent day, a stream of visitors, including school children, walked through the circular room, stopping to sit behind the desk and pose for pictures.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
On a recent day, a stream of visitors, including schoolchildren, walked through the circular room, stopping to sit behind the desk and pose for pictures.—
Sophia Tareen,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Pressure is a privilege and, in our case, the players took those competitions seriously.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
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The 23-year-old has performed when called upon in the cup competitions and was expected, before Donnarumma’s sudden arrival, to compete to be a starting Premier League goalkeeper.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Strength in duels – ground and aerial.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ball games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball%20games. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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