1
as in personally
in person and usually privately
I won't believe that accusation until I meet with him face-to-face and ask him myself
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one-on-one
in direct confrontation or competition
came face-to-face with her lifelong fear of flying even before the plane left the runway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of face-to-face
Parents can help by staying connected to their child’s online world, setting clear screen limits, and encouraging face-to-face friendships and activities.
—
Hannah Silverman, Parents, 31 Oct. 2025
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Both leaders offered warm remarks at the start of the talks – their first face-to-face in six years – at an airbase in the coastal city of Busan, near to where an international summit is taking place.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump is projecting positivity ahead of his meeting with Xi, which will take place in Busan, South Korea, and marks the first time the two leaders have seen each other face-to-face in six years.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-to-face
Hannah Silverman, Parents, 31 Oct. 2025
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Both leaders offered warm remarks at the start of the talks – their first face-to-face in six years – at an airbase in the coastal city of Busan, near to where an international summit is taking place.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Trump is projecting positivity ahead of his meeting with Xi, which will take place in Busan, South Korea, and marks the first time the two leaders have seen each other face-to-face in six years.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-to-face
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-to-face
Adverb
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There turned out to be something satisfying about the discipline involved in creating a personally meaningful collection within these constraints.—
Kenneth Turan,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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Others shared messages of sympathy despite not knowing Nicholson personally.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Teams of friends and families will go head-to-head in a test of boat building in the great outdoors during an annual Central Florida event.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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The race for another Board of Review seat will be a head-to-head match rather than uncontested after county officials ruled incumbent Commissioner George Cardenas was safe on the ballot.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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More recently, Mamdani tackled the Islamophobic attacks against him head-on, with a heartfelt message that drew comparisons to Obama's race speech.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Then only weeks later, Eugene was badly injured when his car was struck head-on by another vehicle that crossed the median on a two-lane highway.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Face-to-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-to-face. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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