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
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
In the first half, England won just 50 per cent of their duels; Brazil won 80 per cent.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Prediction Robertson and Hoover have one of the nation’s best quarterback duels, but a healthier Baylor squad pulls out a 38-35 win over the Horned Frogs.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
Some questions are visually supported by photographs, others by sound, while other duels focus on open questions, multiple choice and association.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
One of the weirdest races in their duels was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw them both experience a tough run of luck completely independent from each other.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
In the first half, England won just 50 per cent of their duels; Brazil won 80 per cent.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Prediction Robertson and Hoover have one of the nation’s best quarterback duels, but a healthier Baylor squad pulls out a 38-35 win over the Horned Frogs.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
Some questions are visually supported by photographs, others by sound, while other duels focus on open questions, multiple choice and association.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
One of the weirdest races in their duels was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw them both experience a tough run of luck completely independent from each other.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
Noun
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Beijing’s talent-friendly move could also give it a boost amid continuing trade tensions and tech rivalries with Washington, which has imposed export controls on chips and other advanced technology that are spurring China to develop its own.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
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Lewis, a tight end at Wisconsin from 2004-07, traces his appreciation for rivalries to his Big Ten roots.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Per Pete Thamel of ESPN, the Red Raiders will ask redshirt freshman Will Hammond to make his first career start on Saturday as senior quarterback Behren Morton battles a leg injury.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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Brian Schottenheimer battles through injuries Heading into the game against the Jets, Schottenheimer’s offensive line was wrecked by injury.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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You could also be tested by stressful confrontations, urging you to stand up for yourself without losing yourself in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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For now, the Chamber’s legal challenge represents one of the most direct confrontations between the nation’s largest business lobby and a Republican administration over immigration policy in decades.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The court fights all proved futile, however.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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This included people rushing the field, fights breaking out and some of the crowd panicking.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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City have won 17 of their 18 meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, but that one defeat, at the Vitality Stadium this time last year, made a real impression on Guardiola.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Between homecoming, football games and marching competitions every weekend, band students are spending more time with each other than at home.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jasmine Crowe-Houston is the founder of Goodr, an organization that regularly combats food waste by collaborating with businesses, foundations, governments, and sports teams to provide high-quality food to local communities.—
Ronny Maye,
Essence,
31 Oct. 2025
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Nourish Up, an organization that combats hunger in Mecklenburg County through food banks, grocery delivery and the meals on wheels program, served 164,000 people in 2024 alone.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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A lot of Flagg’s struggles can be explained by the situation he’s been put in.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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The shutdown could very well exacerbate those struggles for many Americans, especially people on the margins.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This year, all eyes are on just three contests nationwide—and most of the chatter has centered on Zohran Mamdani’s meteoric mayoral run across the Hudson as a democratic socialist.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Lincoln is 0-7 and has been shutout in its last four contests.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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