duels 1 of 2

noun

plural of duel
as in rivalries
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

duels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of duel
as in battles

Related Words

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 duels
Noun
By that point, Hull had won almost twice as many duels as United and were also winning the game. — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games. — Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026 As with many Latin American and African teams, Paraguay defend deep and are extremely physical in duels and aerial battles. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack. — Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Jude Bellingham is also making his presence known in the midfield, helping England to win the majority of the duels so far. — Nbc News, NBC news, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
  1. rivalries
  2. battles
  3. confrontations
  4. fights
  5. competitions
  6. combats
  7. struggles
  8. contends
Noun
  • College football is almost here, bringing back decades-long rivalries, close games and, of course, die-hard fan bases.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rivalries
Verb
  • The youngest of late Lakers owner Jerry Buss’ six children, the brothers have made the Padres their first major investment as the family battles over the sale of its remaining Lakers stake.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Is Joe Biden’s wayward son trying to land a lucrative podcast deal or taking one last stand to clear his name as his father battles cancer?
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of battles
Noun
  • Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations.
    — Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Critical milestones in this transitional phase of the movement were the deadly confrontations between white Christian extremists and federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho (1992), and Waco, Texas (1993).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontations
Verb
  • Rodriguez has long touted himself as being someone who fights big corporations.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Two fights Washington has been building toward this year came to a head Monday.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fights
Noun
  • Both teams got their last live looks at their respective competitions for the backup QB job — behind Tyler Shough in New Orleans and Dallas' Dak Prescott.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The draw for the Doubles competitions will be held on September 1.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitions
Verb
  • The Chinese government firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with the law.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Fed typically combats inflation by raising its benchmark interest rate to slow borrowing and spending and cool the economy.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of combats
Noun
  • Birth of daughter and personal struggles Meanwhile, following a lull in her career in the late 1990s, Smith returned to the spotlight in 2000.
    — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In reality, Loesby contends, many struggles reflect predictable structural mismatches — a lawyer who prefers depth and analysis struggling in a role that rewards constant responsiveness, or one who thrives on collaboration disengaging in isolation.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggles
Verb
  • The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, or IBC, contends that the clock began when the existing garment wage took effect in December 2023.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The author contends the Fed cannot control price shifts stemming from sophisticated global cooperation, new technologies, or supply chain disruptions, making blame for inflation or expectations of quick fixes unrealistic.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of contends

Browse Nearby Words

dueling
duels
duende
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Cite this Entry

“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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