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
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 face-off
Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
After Nikita Kucherov scored to tie the game, Josh Norris broke a nine-game goal drought with a quick wrist shot from the face-off dot.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Big Think, 8 May 2026
Kambli will face off against veteran Washington attorneys Paul Clement and Abbe Lowell, both of whom are representing challengers to the administration’s actions.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Concrète Waves feels less like an intergenerational face-off and more like a meeting of brilliant minds on the same terms.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
After Nikita Kucherov scored to tie the game, Josh Norris broke a nine-game goal drought with a quick wrist shot from the face-off dot.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The battle cry is sounded; the mongooses face off shoulder to shoulder.
—Big Think, 8 May 2026
Kambli will face off against veteran Washington attorneys Paul Clement and Abbe Lowell, both of whom are representing challengers to the administration’s actions.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
-
But their rivalry continued as Zayn got back at Williams by dressing up as the gingerbread man and attacking the champion.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
While the Irish and Trojans will miss each other on the field, the rivalry has now turned sibling style with the younger Tuihalamaka picking the Trojans.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
But please remember – this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
And Joly’s ability to stick in Denver and compete with Engram in camp will ultimately come down to Payton’s trust in Joly as a blocker, as Engram was on the field in a blocking role for just 18% of his snaps in 2025.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Without losing a man or a ship, Dewey’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in the first American naval battle against a foreign power in almost five decades.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
With his plans to cap his college partners at 30, Davis contends that those that spurned Avo’s advances will eventually come to regret it.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
-
Republican officials contend the new districts can be suspended only after Hoskins determines the petition meets constitutional requirements and has enough valid signatures.—
David A. Lieb,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Game 1 on Thursday at Byron Nelson High School was a pitchers duel won by the Bobcats 3-2.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
After racing across the state to collect signatures, that campaign, called People Not Politicians, last year turned in more than 300,000 signatures to force a statewide vote on the map in November.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
-
As the drivers raced into Turn 1, a handful of drivers were caught up in a spin.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Friendly competition is part of the fuel for starter Davis Martin.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
The concept of everyone coming together for one evening — and pausing their competition for the good of the overall TV business — had some legs.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
When the dispute moved to the parking lot, witnesses said Hearne threw the first punch, and videos circulating online appeared to show the confrontation.—
JJ Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
10 May 2026
-
Two Montrose Police Department officers shot an armed man in a confrontation Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
