as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges
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Recent Examples of face-off
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
On July 25, the sun in Leo will make a direct opposition to powerhouse Pluto, creating a cosmic face-off between the self and the community, or the spotlight and the shadow that comes with it.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 July 2025
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
Rose Mulvany Henry and Christal Watson, who led the pool of mayoral candidates, will face off in November for outgoing Mayor Tyrone Garner’s seat.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Meanwhile, back in the real world, Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr (from Superman) is out to close the portal in his face-off with Peacemaker.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
On July 25, the sun in Leo will make a direct opposition to powerhouse Pluto, creating a cosmic face-off between the self and the community, or the spotlight and the shadow that comes with it.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
The Lynx and Mystics have faced off twice so far this season, splitting the two matchups, with the home team winning each.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
Rose Mulvany Henry and Christal Watson, who led the pool of mayoral candidates, will face off in November for outgoing Mayor Tyrone Garner’s seat.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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The dwindling embers of the Boise State-University of Idaho rivalry will receive a spark later this year.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Aug. 2025
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This fight is the catalyst for one of the longest-running rivalries in the story.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Solitaire couldn’t compete with the dopamine hits of doom-scrolling social media or binge-watching Breaking Bad for the third time.—
Ariana Torrey,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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However, the question remains whether Nissan can compete with the onslaught from Chinese EVs, particularly in the UK, which doesn’t currently tariff automotive imports at the level of the EU or USA.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a judge to jail Beto O'Rourke, claiming the former Democratic congressman violated a court order by fundraising to support the dozens of state Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state amid its redistricting battle.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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The Defense Department has awarded BAE Systems’ shipyard in San Diego a $64.1 million contract for repairs, maintenance and upgrades on the USS O’Kane, a Burke-class destroyer that helped protect the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group during a long deployment that ended in February.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Contrary to decades of precedent, Republican state officials in at least 15 states contend that private individuals and groups do not have the right to sue to enforce Section 2 because they are not explicitly named in the landmark law's text.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
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The lawsuit also contends that the defendants made the conscious decision to keep the store open and not warn customers that the roof was unsafe.—
Alexa Stone,
Kansas City Star,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But the Twins didn’t get the call, dropping a game that had been a pitchers’ duel between starters Chris Paddack and Tyler Glasnow, who each allowed a solo home run — Paddack to Ohtani and Glasnow to Royce Lewis — but nothing else in their efforts.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
24 July 2025
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While event data usually collects tackles and duels, that’s just players being aggressive, but the art of defending is around positioning and anticipating play — not interventions.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Apart from Daytona, the 32-year-old driver will also race at Charlotte Roval, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Why Inference Is The Next Frontier Businesses across sectors are racing to develop AI systems that can transform their operations.—
Andre Reitenbach,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For the first time in decades, traditional sports face real competition for the next generation of fans, many of whom are trading physical arenas for virtual ones.—
Jennifer Acree,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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HIs main competition, Rhamondre Stevenson, had but one TD run in his last seven games of ‘24.—
Kevin Cusick,
Twin Cities,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Continuation of the war would mean more of Europe's time, money, and military aid is needed to support Ukraine, and threatens to lead to a direct NATO-Russia confrontation on the continent, with potentially catastrophic consequences.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Exactly what led to the couple’s confrontation is a question with which friends of the couple — who shared three children, now all under the age of 13 — are still grappling.—
Johnny Dodd,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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