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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duels
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Much like the classic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning duels of old, the quarterback matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — the two current MVP frontrunners — is can’t-miss television.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
Boise State and Fresno State have engaged in some pretty tight duels through the years.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Miley won eight of his 10 ground duels and one of his three in the air.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Much like the classic Tom Brady-Peyton Manning duels of old, the quarterback matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — the two current MVP frontrunners — is can’t-miss television.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025
Boise State and Fresno State have engaged in some pretty tight duels through the years.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
Noun
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The barbs thrown back and forth, creating headlines and fueling rivalries.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
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JSerra-Mater Dei soccer is among the better rivalries in Orange County sports.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Chris Mara spoke on behalf of Giants ownership Tuesday after John Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, confirming Mara’s rise to a more prominent role and influence in the organization as his brother, co-owner John Mara, battles cancer.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
20 Jan. 2026
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Ukraine’s air defense systems are stretched thin, with last night’s defense costing $93 million in ammunition, as the country battles relentless Russian aerial attacks.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps this is why the administration has taken the bizarre step of actively seeking confrontations with celebrities.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
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Protests and confrontations have intensified following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
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Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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De Laurentiis took all the chaos in stride and was the expert judge for the cooking portion of the outrageous lineup of competitions.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Midwest's best winter fests include big-city ice-carving competitions as well as cozy small-town gatherings.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Last Gift Study, launched in 2017, combats that issue by conducting an autopsy immediately after a patient’s death.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
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Fit was prioritized on the upper, which combats wrinkles at the toe box and hosts a better lacing system and a new heel sling.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The film centers on Malu, whose struggles with unresolved trauma and a difficult child take a nightmarish turn when an inexplicable curse brings toilets to life as murderous creatures, plunging her into a bizarre realm where maternal responsibilities, loss and existential dread intertwine.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
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Based on the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, this story highlights the struggles of a diverse group of women who come together to survive more than the destruction of their city.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Miami’s win Thursday improved the ACC’s record to 9-4 in bowl games and dropped the SEC to 2-8 this postseason (playoff and bowl games) in contests not involving two SEC schools.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Carolina is 7-3 in one-score contests.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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