Synonyms of face

face 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to front

to stand or sit with the face or front toward

the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• front
• meet
• look (toward)
• point (toward)
• border
• overlook
• dominate
• touch
• bound
• margin
• neighbor
• fringe
• rim
• adjoin
• abut
• skirt
• command
• look down (on)

2

as in to confront

to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage

movie superheroes who are ever ready to face danger without blinking an eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confront
• brave
• breast
• encounter
• beard
• dare
• withstand
• stand up to
• front
• meet
• resist
• defy
• outface
• fight
• brazen
• outbrave
• face up (to)
• challenge
• approach
• stand
• affront
• combat
• corner
• battle
• oppose
• repel
• accost
• contend (with)
• square (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• duck
• dodge
• shirk
• sidestep
• shun
• shake
• escape
• eschew
• evade
• elude
• funk

3

as in to clad

to cover with something that protects

we decided to face our old frame house with aluminum siding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clad
• clothe
• encase
• sheathe
• wrap
• dress
• skin
• side
• surround
• apparel
• array
• veil
• envelop
• embrace
• garb
• enclose
• robe
• encompass
• overspread
• shroud
• lap
• overlay
• mantle
• blanket
• embower
• enshroud
• embosom
• swathe
• invest
• enwrap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose
• bare
• strip
• denude
• unswathe

4

as in to encounter

to enter into contest or conflict with

the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounter
• meet
• engage
• fight
• take on
• battle
• emulate
• contend
• oppose
• rival

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escape
• evade
• elude
• retreat

face

2 of 2

noun

ˈfās 

1

as in looks

the front part of the head

the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• looks
• appearance
• presence
• visage
• features
• countenance
• expression
• pan
• puss
• mug
• kisser
• aspect
• mien
• physiognomy
• lineaments

2

as in front

a forward part or surface

the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• front
• facade
• forehead
• surface
• forepart
• skin
• outside
• veneer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• back
• rear
• reverse
• interior
• inside
• rearward
• innards

3

as in frown

a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval

it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frown
• scowl
• grimace
• mouth
• smirk
• pout
• look
• lower
• stare
• mow
• moue
• wince
• sneer
• snarl
• growl
• glare
• mug
• flinch
• snoot
• squinch
• rictus
• glower
• scoff
• simper

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smile
• laugh
• grin

4

as in exterior

an outer part or layer

a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exterior
• surface
• front
• skin
• top
• outside
• facing
• shell
• facade
• veneer
• mask
• appearance
• covering
• cover
• show
• disguise
• semblance
• guise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interior
• inside

5

as in look

facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling

a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something

Synonyms & Similar Words

• look
• expression
• smile
• grin
• countenance
• visage
• scowl
• frown
• grimace
• cast
• mouth
• presence
• demeanor
• appearance
• pout
• lower
• bearing
• air
• manner
• aspect
• mien

6

as in appearance

outward and often deceptive indication

on the face of it, the country went to war for noble reasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appearance
• effect
• impression
• seeming
• name
• outward
• show
• resemblance
• first blush
• semblance
• likeness
• display
• implication
• mask
• guise
• image
• surface
• pose
• cloak
• facade
• suggestion
• pretense
• demonstration
• representation
• hint
• air
• front
• imitation
• exterior
• simulation
• shape
• fiction
• affectation
• masquerade
• disguise
• shell
• insinuation
• gloss
• veneer
• patina
• make-believe
• imposture
• Potemkin village

7

as in person

a member of the human race

I see they've hired some new faces

Synonyms & Similar Words

• person
• life
• man
• guy
• creature
• body
• human
• individual
• thing
• bird
• being
• soul
• duck
• egg
• fish
• baby
• sort
• customer
• specimen
• character
• head
• party
• human being
• personality
• devil
• scout
• mortal
• bod
• cookie
• stiff
• personage
• wight
• son of man
• fellow
• slob
• brother
• neighbor
• self
• somebody
• homo
• humanoid
• hominid
• celebrity
• fellowman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• animal
• beast
• brute
• critter
• beastie

8

as in gall

shameless boldness

you have to wonder how anyone has the face to ask such a personal question

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gall
• nerve
• arrogance
• cheek
• temerity
• crust
• brass
• audacity
• effrontery
• presumption
• brashness
• assurance
• confidence
• pertness
• cheekiness
• brazenness
• chutzpah
• audaciousness
• sauciness
• presumptuousness
• sauce
• nerviness
• disrespect
• brassiness
• self-confidence
• cockiness
• overconfidence
• back talk
• self-assurance
• impudence
• hardihood
• incivility
• insolence
• impoliteness
• inconsideration
• sanguinity
• rudeness
• inconsiderateness
• sass
• impertinence
• swagger
• ungraciousness
• discourteousness
• swash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• timidity
• modesty
• shyness
• hesitancy
• bashfulness
• diffidence
• manners
• timorousness
• courtesy
• timidness
• faintheartedness
• graciousness
• civility
• gentility
• mannerliness
• courteousness

9

as in assurance

a state of mind in which one is free from doubt

he managed to maintain face despite the endless series of crises

Synonyms & Similar Words

• assurance
• certainty
• conviction
• confidence
• satisfaction
• positiveness
• certitude
• surety
• assuredness
• doubtlessness
• sureness
• cocksureness
• resolve
• determination
• dogmatism
• authoritarianism
• resoluteness
• resolution
• firmness
• decisiveness
• purposefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doubt
• uncertainty
• hesitation
• disbelief
• hesitancy
• concern
• incredulity
• incertitude
• indecisiveness
• irresolution
• anxiety
• unbelief
• nonconfidence
• suspicion
• distrust
• mistrust
• misgiving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of face

Verb

Sentinel faces development challenges The Mk21A program operates under a military contract worth more than $1 billion. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

If convicted, Sapov faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of the two counts of stalking, followed by supervised release. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

Yet a face is becoming a faster way through Orlando’s attractions, and Florida has not established a clear, statewide set of rules for guests who would rather keep theirs out of a biometric ticket system. — Burak Oktenli, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Vogue’s reporting on beige blush notes that neutral shades sculpt the face without erasing cheek color entirely. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing face

• blue in the face
• egg on one's face
• face off
• face value
• fall on one's face
• make a face
• pull a face

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Editor Peter Sokolowski breaks down a number of body parts with metaphorical uses as verbs, from head to toe.

Transcript:

Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can head a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors. A good leader backs their employees, but if you don't toe the line you might get skinned. Did you muscle your way into that job? You might eye someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to finger a suspect. But if you need to get out of town, try thumbing a ride. You can ride with me if you can stomach the thought. I don't always sing along to the radio, but you might see me mouthing the words.