as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a duel for the title of captain of the team
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duel
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
One game turned grabbing the last slice of cake into a pistol duel of who could press the button at exactly the right time.
—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duel
Noun
The Stanley Cup Final has served as the stage for epic goaltending duels over the years.
—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
One game turned grabbing the last slice of cake into a pistol duel of who could press the button at exactly the right time.
—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Verb
When fans arrive at Citi Field to see new Mets ace Freddy Peralta duel NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on Thursday, they’ll be greeted by the same familiar voice that has been greeting them every Opening Day for years.
—
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
In Black Panther, Killmonger’s father T’Chaka was killed by T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda, prompting him to duel T’Challa for the throne.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duel
Noun
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In his first chance to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his still-new Padres uniform Friday night, Buehler was a star in this NL West rivalry once again.
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The other final will see Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay renew their rivalry from Forbidden Door 2024, this time with an AEW World Championship match at Wembley Stadium on the line.
Verb
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The ship also hosts several heavy artillery pieces, including a cannon on the bow with different types of rounds to combat different threats.
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Maintaining fitness through practices like cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and adequate sleep is crucial for combating decision fatigue, managing stress, and sustaining peak performance over a long career.
Noun
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Riff argued the issue to halt the payout was not a legal battle but rather a political one.
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While the first half of the match was full of battles and speed runs from one goal to another, the players seem to be taking a more methodical pace after returning from the locker room.
Verb
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Utah restricted fireworks and declared a state of emergency Friday ahead of July Fourth celebrations as the United States' largest wildfire expanded its reach across more tinder-dry forest, as crews rush to fight new blazes in the arid state.
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Plata was fighting a pretty strong German defense and a hold on his jersey to get up there.
Noun
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Thomas, 25, has seen limited playing time this season due to some offensive struggles.
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Carvalho’s struggles included a three-day strike in March 2023.
Verb
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The report generally contends that a single-payer system would, by eliminating the paperwork and other aspects of the current system, be the most efficient from a cost/benefit basis.
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Experts contended that the progressive candidates could split the vote, opening the door for McAdams to win.
Noun
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The biggest score of the World Cup competition may be happening off the pitch.
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For Iraq, a victory would be its first in World Cup competition while Senegal, a quarterfinalist in 2002, would like to get a win for Sadio Mane, one of Africa’s most iconic players, who may be playing in his final World Cup.
Verb
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While both parties have long wrestled with warring factions in their ranks, the ideological rift is on full display this year, especially among Democrats, as democratic socialists test just how far to the left voters are willing to go.
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Elaine Ferguson, co-founder of W5 Technologies, is wrestling with how to deal with crippling RAM costs and lead times for the communications equipment her company makes for defense contractors.
Cite this Entry
“Duel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duel. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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