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
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
Under the old policy, alcohol sales were still prohibited during Burleson Youth Association ball games or practices.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Nov. 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
There have been 74 pitchers who have started at least 440 ball games since 1920, and Kershaw is the only one who hasn’t surpassed triple-digit losses according to Baseball-Reference.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
To start, there are no bicycles or ball games, no mirrors larger than the palm of one’s hand, and almost no personal property.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
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
Under the old policy, alcohol sales were still prohibited during Burleson Youth Association ball games or practices.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Nov. 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
There have been 74 pitchers who have started at least 440 ball games since 1920, and Kershaw is the only one who hasn’t surpassed triple-digit losses according to Baseball-Reference.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
To start, there are no bicycles or ball games, no mirrors larger than the palm of one’s hand, and almost no personal property.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball games
Noun
-
So brace yourselves for the regional rivalries.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets will meet again tonight in a matchup that remains one of the NBA's most heated rivalries, even as both franchises enter a rebuilding phase.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This makes vocal communication a reliable way — if not the only way — for dolphins to maintain contact with one another, especially when traveling, hunting or navigating social situations.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Such vague commands, the court said, leave agents guessing how to respond during fast-moving protest situations and expose them to possible contempt sanctions.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After stepping through a giant wooden door, tall grass teems with wild Pokémon, adorable critters strike charming poses and battles break out between fierce opponents.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
-
ByteDance’s focus on AI ByteDance also has other battles to fight.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Facilitating business deals Large business delegations often accompany national leaders when making state visits.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Keep scrolling for more can’t-miss outlet deals available at Wayfair.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After years of struggles with hearing loss, Bonnie Covey's personal story of restoration has helped others with their complications.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For those two teams and the Pacers, the absence of a talented player(s) from the year prior led to their struggles.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s been a couple of fun AI pictures.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Posters of rock bands were replaced with pictures of Serbian saints and stately World War I generals.—
Aleksandar Hemon,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hiwa is preparing an official letter demanding that the International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling suspend and ban Iran from all international competitions.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Its content features topics on skiing, snowboarding, mountains, ski resorts, travel guides, gear reviews, outdoor events, competitions or festivals and more.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Carrick rates Maguire as a player and a person, just as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did, praising his ability to win duels.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Demon Slayer, the first of a series-ending film trilogy, is a master class in hyper-kinetic, violent battles and high-stakes melodrama, in which a sequence of epic duels is intercut with emotional character backstories.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ball games.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball%20games. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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