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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of face-off
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Sean Durzi set up the goal with a cross-ice pass, and Guenther scored on a slap shot from down on one knee, beating Dostal over the blocker from the left face-off dot.
—Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Only keeping your face off the pillow does that.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
On Tuesday morning, billionaire Tom Steyer — a Democrat — proposed holding an alternative face-off, with KNBC moderating.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Sean Durzi set up the goal with a cross-ice pass, and Guenther scored on a slap shot from down on one knee, beating Dostal over the blocker from the left face-off dot.
—Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
The only reliable way to avoid facial compression during sleep is to keep your face off the pillow altogether.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Only keeping your face off the pillow does that.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
-
The Penguins showed a video tribute honoring Ovechkin and his longstanding rivalry with Crosby during a television timeout in the second period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The couple has previously playfully acknowledged their rivalry.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Elon Musk’s Starship and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Moon landers are both competing to prove their company’s lander will be ready first.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Agencies that invest in training and oversight compete with others operating under no formal requirements.—
Jake Krilovich,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Battle of Kings Mountain, where the Patriots won a 1780 battle just west of Charlotte, and a recreation of British loyalist leader Maj.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In a battle for first place in the Pacific Coast League, Patel drove in five runs and scored a run to lead Irvine to an 8-2 victory over Portola.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Taunton will be defensively strong and leans on its captains – Joey Benoit (Brown), Corbin Melo (LF), Jeremy Knief and Dylan Keenun (SS) – to help a mostly new group of starters contend.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Whether that amounts to genuine policy momentum or, as critics contend, an elaborate exercise in reputation management may be the defining question of the political economy of the AI age.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cologne eased its Bundesliga relegation worries on Sunday, Stuttgart took another step toward Champions League qualification and Freiburg defeated Mainz 1-0 away in a duel between European contenders.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
At its core, this was a legendary duel between Steph Curry and … Aaron Gordon?—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Haotong Li of China shot 69 and was four behind, still mystified by topping a fairway metal that raced into the pond in front of the 15th green.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But neither is an experienced starter so general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley will almost certainly seek training camp competition for each role.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The drama was announced as having been selected for Cannes’ main competition at the festival’s traditional press conference in Paris on Thursday.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While Hilton‘s and Bianco’s campaigns have sparred about their respective records, the candidates largely avoided direct confrontation until a debate earlier this month in Rancho Mirage.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Audacity seems to be setting up a deadly confrontation between them, but there’s still some chance JoAnne can be coerced into playing ball with Duncan.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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