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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duels
James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
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
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
Noun
The return from injury of Gravenberch, who won six of his eight duels, was another welcome sight, along with Alexis Mac Allister completing 90 minutes for Liverpool for the first time since April.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
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
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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Few crosstown rivalries can compare to the one Hingham and Notre Dame Academy have developed the past few decades.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
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The history of contemporary music is littered with hundreds of rivalries both amicable and otherwise.—
Jason Newman,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But soon, an intruder introduces both suspicion and hope for connection, as loneliness battles with the fear that something considerably larger than a virus is hiding in the dark.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily and the escalating aggression toward law enforcement.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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After all, the tension between these planets can stir up emotional confrontations, magnetic attractions and psychological power plays.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And the action ranges from dueling card tricks to the kind of honest-to-God fights that merely serve to remind us that balletic action films really are magic tricks.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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The movie, about a pop girl group called HUNTR/X that fights demons, was a smash hit.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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While he was banned from major competitions, Gorst traveled around the US playing smaller regional events that didn’t fall under pool’s international governing rules.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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The three-day event features million-dollar rodeo competitions each evening before the concerts.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 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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But behind closed doors, the then-couple were facing marital struggles, as Betty claimed in her 2015 memoir, Telling On Myself.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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The struggles of being a parent and the struggles of your child are so understandably private.—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Democratic Party is currently reevaluating its calendar for when those early contests will occur, but Hackett said Democrats hoping to run are still covering their bases.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gorst came back in both contests, including a late-night quarterfinal against Michael Baoanan, a player from the Philippines who was backed by a sizable cheering section that created a rowdier atmosphere.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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