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

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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

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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

As the train doors were about to close, the pair exited the train, facing off against each other, and the assailant punched the victim in the face. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Embattled Central Florida Congressman Cory Mills faced off in a fiery primary debate with three fellow Republicans Wednesday evening, in which the political issues were largely overshadowed by his many controversies. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face-off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off

Noun

Houthis’ allies The Houthis are backed by Iran, which began increasing its aid to the group in 2014 as the civil war escalated and as its rivalry with Saudi Arabia intensified.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Alongside the central Yash roles, the trailer introduces Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi, each positioned within a web of relationships and rivalries that define the ensemble narrative.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Verb

Ask whether ToolBench scores servers that compete with Arcade's own catalog on identical criteria.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Located in the heart of the Marais, a restaurant at the Centre Pompidou would have to be pretty special to compete against all the excellent neighboring options.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of compete

Noun

Four months later, my mom began a private battle against death when she was diagnosed with polio.

— Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Following a slew of casualties (including James Norton’s Ormund Hightower) during a massive battle between the Blacks and the Greens at Tumbleton, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) jumps to her death off screen in King’s Landing.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Elsewhere, though, pundits contend that these voters are rejecting socialism and its candidates, as in last year’s party primary for New York City mayor, when then-candidate Zohran Mamdani lost Black communities by wide margins.

— Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2026
Football season is back in South Florida as both the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes have opened training camp, giving fans an early look at teams hoping to contend in the NFL and college football this fall.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of contend

Noun

Hugh is murdered in the street by Jon Roxton, one of the conspirators, but the bowl-cut-sporting swordsman already had a big duel with Daemon in the first Battle of Tumbleton, so maybe somebody else will get the honors.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
The starters were locked in a scoreless duel through five innings.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
East and West are once again locked in a life-and-death confrontation, even as Putin fires off a fusillade of threats to launch nuclear missiles against any Western power that comes to Ukraine’s aid.

— Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Browse Nearby Words

facelift

face-off

face off

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Style

“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of face-off

noun

verb

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