Synonyms of face-to-face

face-to-face

adverb

ˈfās-tə-ˈfās 

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

• personally
• in secret
• tête-à-tête
• in private
• immediately
• intimately
• secretly
• confidentially
• familiarly
• directly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indirectly
• publicly
• openly
• distantly

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

• one-on-one
• head-to-head
• head-on
• toe-to-toe
• eyeball-to-eyeball
• mano a mano

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of face-to-face

Abaraonye’s attitude drew particular ire due to the fact that the president-elect debated Kirk face-to-face within the walls of the Oxford Union just months before the assassination. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2025

Some research suggests that face-to-face play may have an additional benefit above playing them alone. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

Nearly 20 years after Dennis Rader was sent to prison, his daughter Kerri Rawson found the strength to confront him face-to-face. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025

Private communications may have to be face-to-face. —Mark Mondier, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025