DUEL Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

duel 1 of 2

noun

ˈdü-əl

Definition of duel

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another a duel for the title of captain of the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duel

2 of 2

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 duel

Noun

The Angels finally broke through in a pitchers’ duel in the fifth. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Verb

The final day of Georgia’s marquee Republican runoffs ended Monday with dueling endorsements and a barrage of campaign stops stretching from the coast to the Tennessee line. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 16 June 2026 Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway through which the region’s insecurity quickly becomes a global economic problem, remained hostage to dueling coercive measures. — Ali Vaez, Time, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for duel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duel

Noun

With the league’s expansion to Denver, Columbus, and possibly Cincinnati, such regional rivalries should only expand.

— PJ Green September 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
College football has gone national, abandoning regional affinities and local rivalries.

— Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Verb

Just this week the federal government adopted a new 10-point plan to combat Islamist terrorism.

— Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
The Fed on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since July 2023 and indicated another hike could follow, as part of its effort aimed at combating inflation that has been stoked by spiraling oil prices, among other factors.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of combat

Noun

There will be recruiting battles and NIL headaches and portal defections and angry message boards and all the other insanity that comes with coaching at a place where fans consider 9-3 an average record rather than an accomplishment.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
The White Sox, meanwhile, are in a neck-and-neck battle with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Brian would have to report back home to his louse of a father to fight or be branded a traitor.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
Though religious thinkers will fight fiercely to show one of the stories to be the one that religion really sanctions, each Abrahamic religion has signposts pointing both ways.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of fight

Noun

Second-half struggles The Hurricanes come out like gangbusters on offense in the first half, scoring on five of their first six drives.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
While Sara was working through her struggles, her mom was having her own existential crisis about what she’d be inspired to do next.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

Ahead of the legal arguments, most experts contend that Missouri likely will not use the gerrymandered map in November and instead conduct the election using a map lawmakers passed in 2022.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Penn State regularly contended for New Year’s Six bowls but lost the close, important games so often that fans braced for heartbreak.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of contend

Noun

On September 18, the family of four attended an event for Athlos, Ohanian’s women-only track and field competition.

— Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026
Related The upcoming installment of mystery competition show revealed the news in a video theatrically narrated by host Alan Cumming.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of competition

Verb

California growers and winemakers of all sizes are wrestling with an oversaturated market due to a steep drop in consumer demand and the loss of the majority of wine exports to Canada.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
As Nabers wrestled with hurdles that stood in his way, the noise of a 24/7 NFL news cycle desperate to know Nabers’ next steps swirled around them.

— Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrestle

Browse Nearby Words

due

duel

dueled

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Style

“Duel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duel. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of duel

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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