FACE OFF Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

face-off 1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf

Definition of face-off

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

face off

2 of 2

verb

as in to compete

to engage in a contest eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 face-off

Noun

Messi began the face-off yesterday by scoring twice at lunchtime in Dallas, but Mbappe and Haaland appeared to see that as a personal affront, matching him as the sun set in Philadelphia and New Jersey. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026 After a contentious Republican runoff in Georgia, the stage is set for a major face-off that will be watched by the nation. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Verb

Donalds’ exit led Cawthorn to face off against nine other Republicans for the seat. — Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2026 Wahab and Hernandez will also face off in the November general election for who represents the seat for a full term. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face-off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off

Noun

At least until kick-off, club rivalry will be set aside; there will be northern English empathy.

— Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Verb

March 21 – April 19 The deadline competing with a relationship promise may need an honest update.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
From the end of August through mid-September, the world’s greatest tennis players will convene in Queens, New York, to compete in the Grand Slam tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of compete

Noun

The twin springs that gave the Revolutionary War battle its name are no more, inundated by the 1940s project that flooded the Santee River basin for hydroelectric power and flood control.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Outrageousness seems to be the point of these battles, which have no apparent criteria, judges, or rules.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Conservationists and some state officials contend the move is a pretext for commercial development that will harm wildlife habitats and water quality.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Anthony’s attorneys contend those comments have created the appearance that Roach prejudged the defense’s claims.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of contend

Noun

Martinez and former Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz were locked in a scoreless pitching duel until the sixth, when the Rays went up 3-0 after Baz got two straight outs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Back in the Premier League after nearly a decade away, Hull won 50 duels, on the ground and in the air, to United’s 35.

— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Verb

In this dawning age of artificial intelligence, tech companies are racing to train and run their large language models using massive data centers that guzzle electricity and strain resources.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
As the ball entered the 6-yard box, LAFC’s Jeremy Ebobisse raced across and attempted a clearance.

— Daily News, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of race

Noun

But as more money and bigger names entered, competition grew fiercer, pushing a drive to export the dramas overseas for more revenue — and use whatever means available to cut costs.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
While ChatGPT’s release in late 2022, helped spark a flurry of competition and advances for large language models, the same idea isn’t easily applied to robots because of their complexity.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

Bond and Best had been in a brief confrontation earlier in the evening, while talking to the same woman near the intersection of Tyson and Battle streets, officials say.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
Along with their production crew, who went ahead to test internet connections, meet locals, and scout each stop, Al-Emad and Andrijasevic were less concerned with manufacturing confrontations than letting local people show them around.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Browse Nearby Words

facelift

face-off

face off

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“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of face-off

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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