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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks have faced off across the same South Philly intersection for decades—and that's just the starting point.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 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
While Gauff and Potapova battled, PSG, France’s top soccer team, faced off against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League Final.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks have faced off across the same South Philly intersection for decades—and that's just the starting point.
—Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
-
Clash in Italy will be one of the biggest premium live events for WWE in the wake of WrestleMania 42, featuring four title matches and a rivalry renewed.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
These two had a strong match at Full Gear 2025, and on a stage as large as Wembley Stadium, there is plenty of reason to revisit the rivalry.—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Guests and locals compete for a time slot where treatments dip into jars of Valmont and Biologique Recherche products.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Brad Sugars, a business coach and founder of ActionCOACH, added that as entry-level opportunities decline for recent college graduates, teenagers are also competing with them.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Diminutive midfielder Joao Neves has engaged in the most duels (134) of any midfielder in the Champions League this season.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Its most recent 54th run was record-breaking, the biggest marathon in history, with 132 countries represented, 59,226 finishers and by far the highest number of spectators in every neighborhood who supported and cheered runners on a route that races through all five boroughs.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
On the lawn of Jim Gilliam Park on Saturday, supporters from across the city chanted Pratt’s name, took selfies in front of black campaign vans with his hummingbird logo and ate cookies decorated with his face as kids raced around on scooters and played with the handful of dogs attending.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 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
-
And the second American director in competition, Ira Sachs, also upheld his standing.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Many of us had been guessing that the centerpiece shoot-out confrontation of the third season would be between Laurie and Alamo’s crews.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
-
Clovis Police Department vehicles were parked in the vicinity, and multiple officers came to oversee the confrontation when the shouting began.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
