as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a duel for the title of captain of the team
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Recent Examples of duels
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Among defenders with 900 or more Premier League minutes this season, Mosquera ranks joint 10th for duels won per 90 minutes and seventh for tackles won per 90.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
In Dumas’ work, fights and duels and brave assaults on prisons are done grandly, out in the open.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
This traces, in part, to those practice duels with Marciulionis, whose patience and persistence through two bumpy seasons ultimately yielded two highly productive seasons.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Physical, mobile defender who excels in 1v1 duels and recovery defending.
—Abraham Nudelstejer, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
Edwards missed the first meeting, and Denver was without multiple rotational pieces in each of the final three duels.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Among defenders with 900 or more Premier League minutes this season, Mosquera ranks joint 10th for duels won per 90 minutes and seventh for tackles won per 90.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
In Dumas’ work, fights and duels and brave assaults on prisons are done grandly, out in the open.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
This traces, in part, to those practice duels with Marciulionis, whose patience and persistence through two bumpy seasons ultimately yielded two highly productive seasons.
—Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Physical, mobile defender who excels in 1v1 duels and recovery defending.
—Abraham Nudelstejer, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
Noun
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Alexander Wynaendts, supervisory board chairman at Deutsche Bank, said Wednesday that Europe needs to reduce regulations and boost its output to compete with China and the US despite challenges posed by the Middle East war and intra-regional rivalries.—
Steve Gelsi,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The postseason format the NHL brought back with the divisional realignment for the 2013-14 season to intensify the first round and double down on regional rivalries has occasionally proved controversial.—
Dave Campbell,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Barred from his high school basketball team due to his temper, a hot-head, street-baller battles demons from his past and present to earn a spot on a summer league team and his last shot at a college basketball scholarship.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Beth, who is voiced by Sarah Chalke, asks dad Rick (Ian Cardoni) in the footage as the family battles a beast comprised of couch cushions.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ahead, our experts break down what’s legal, what’s murky, and how best to initiate a conversation with your neighbor to avoid confrontations down the road.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as more video confrontations pop up online, TMZ’s presence is looming larger.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After years making other kinds of headlines in their community, their split is now playing out publicly as Mike fights to have the court enforce the couple’s prenuptial agreement, which would pay Constance a lump sum of $1 million.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
These fights often concern cuisines that rarely see the spotlight.—
Jamie Feldmar,
Saveur,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The show features 12,000-pound trucks pulling off incredible moves, including balancing on two wheels and flying in head-to-head competitions.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
From new restaurant openings and beloved bakeries finding permanent homes to chef competitions and reader polls, here’s everything that happened in Charlotte food this week on CharlotteFive.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The best weed-and-feed product combats the weed population in your lawn and meets the fertilizer needs of your turf.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, in the immediate term, Gil’s struggles may be an issue for a few more turns throughout the rotation.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
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His hot stretches were overshadowed in his mind by some struggles late in the spring, creating a stretch of self-doubt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While the Colorado Avalanche was finishing off a record-breaking regular season Thursday night with a 2-0 victory against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena, the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers both won their final contests as well.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
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Byfield has four goals and five points in his past three games and has scored in six consecutive road contests.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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