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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The team won 64% of its duels overall and 81% of aerial duels while making more tackles, interceptions, clearances and more.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Engage in precise sword duels and stealthy takedowns.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Dozens of onboard cameras capture the action during tight high-speed duels, while sensors stream more than 35,000 data points per second to onshore coaches.
—G.w. Allen, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
Those duels couldn’t hold a candle to the Giants’ 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, a victory that served as Vitello’s first exposure to the historic rivalry in the regular season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
There seems to be a mutual respect between the two sides, who are often complimentary of one another during and after their duels.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
Most of those have come from physical duels in the box but a few were the result of frustration, too.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The team won 64% of its duels overall and 81% of aerial duels while making more tackles, interceptions, clearances and more.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Engage in precise sword duels and stealthy takedowns.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Dozens of onboard cameras capture the action during tight high-speed duels, while sensors stream more than 35,000 data points per second to onshore coaches.
—G.w. Allen, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
Those duels couldn’t hold a candle to the Giants’ 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, a victory that served as Vitello’s first exposure to the historic rivalry in the regular season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
There seems to be a mutual respect between the two sides, who are often complimentary of one another during and after their duels.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
Noun
-
One of the fiercest divisional rivalries in the NFL will have a new look to it.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Cherfilus-McCormick referenced a previous interaction with Wasserman Schultz, signaling that political rivalries could intensify if both enter the race for District 20.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Despite being projected to be the first overall pick, Mendoza skipped the in-person draft in Pittsburgh to stay in Florida with his mother, who battles multiple sclerosis (MS) and is bound to a wheelchair.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
As Halsey battles addiction and Luke confronts his own darkness, their growing feelings force them to question if love is worth the risk.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This week’s quiz spotlights country stars and celebrity confrontations.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Both men were hospitalized after the shooting; community members describe Eatherly as someone whose provocative actions have intensified tensions and dangerous confrontations.—
Kristin M. Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
His wife, Elizabeth, fights to hold things together at all costs, while their daughter, Jenna, confronts the collapse of her aspirations to attend Juilliard.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Jamie fights him off pretty easily and Ferguson is taken prisoner.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
As YouTube has invested in its lean-back offerings designed for TV viewers, ESPN has brought more longform and live content to the platform, including live streams of elite youth basketball, flag football and volleyball competitions.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
15 May 2026
-
Cooking competitions bring together local chefs and home cooks, who showcase their creativity with traditional recipes and creative interpretations of the fruit.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Avoiding posts on social media is the way DePaul student Loughman combats her health anxiety.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, eases arthritic pain, combats chronic illness and lifts your mood.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those struggles can manifest in a range of ways, McClanahan said, from finding new coping mechanisms to replace food to ongoing body image concerns, even after weight loss.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
14 May 2026
-
During the meeting, teams spoke about their struggles to support their travel to competitions.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Pennsylvania's largest anime convention will feature contests where guests can show off their lipsyncing, scale model building and dance skills; musical guests and karaoke experiences; collectible games; educational panels and workshops; exhibit halls and vendors; and more.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
That’s not to discount the other five division contests on the Panthers’ schedule.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
