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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of face-off
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Thurmond did not meet the polling threshold to qualify for Tuesday’s debate or an NBC/Telemundo face-off taking place on Wednesday.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
New Mexico may elect the nation's first female Native American governor, and a reality TV star will face off against an incumbent mayor in Los Angeles.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
All hell broke loose at Thursday's press conference when Khamzat Chimaev and firebrand Sean Strickland nearly turned a routine face-off into a street fight.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Thurmond did not meet the polling threshold to qualify for Tuesday’s debate or an NBC/Telemundo face-off taking place on Wednesday.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Verb
Two Republicans — El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen and attorney David Willson — are facing off in their own primary at the end of the month for their party’s nomination for the November general election.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
New Mexico may elect the nation's first female Native American governor, and a reality TV star will face off against an incumbent mayor in Los Angeles.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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Swiatek has owned Paris in recent years, and Alcaraz and Sinner have looked like the next two-man rivalry ready to grab the sport by the throat.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
The intense rivalry between Dutton Ranch and 10 Petal Ranch is one aspect of the show that doesn't ring true for Jarvis.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Born in 1907, Carson came of age in a world of increasingly complex and competing attitudes toward nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Their mother, Regina Rajchrtová, is a former professional tennis player who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1988 Summer Olympics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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It is embedded within the city’s historic Jackson Park, a decision that was met with legal battles as an environmental group sued the City of Chicago for allowing a private project to be built on public land.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors argue the order is needed to protect the jury pool, while defense attorneys contend the request is unsupported and unnecessary.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
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On Monday, two contending teams made blockbuster trades in efforts to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 61.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
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At a party, Onegin gets a bit handsy with his friend’s bride-to-be and Lensky has no choice, presumably, but to challenge the other man to a duel.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
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His impact in and out of possession is vital to Switzerland’s success, intercepting passes and winning duels off the ball, while building up the attacks and finding runners in behind with his passing ability.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The top 16 drivers will then race for the championship over the final 10 races.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
None of the horses that raced in the Preakness Stakes will race in the Belmont Stakes, meaning no horse will have competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
What’s more, golf is a sport famed for its adherence to tradition, and not all technological advances are permissible in competitions.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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And the second American director in competition, Ira Sachs, also upheld his standing.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Shortly after the verbal confrontation, Pelley was fired after an emergency meeting Tuesday.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
7 June 2026
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Shocking video captured the moments anti-ICE agitators were arrested outside Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, Friday, during riotous confrontations.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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