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
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
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
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Jackson Merrill was at the plate, facing off against Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Looking for joy is a good way to bond with one another, though contrasting energy arrives in the Moon’s face-off with Pluto, asking us to balance attention with power-sharing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Paschal, Arlington Heights to clash District rivals Fort Worth Paschal and Fort Worth Arlington Heights will face off with the District 7-5A championship on the line at Goldstein Field Saturday.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Jackson Merrill was at the plate, facing off against Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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In December, Chelsea’s players looked inexplicably unprepared for the intensity of this long-time rivalry and were caught out via defensive errors.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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They also are slotted to host an ACC opponent, probably the Blue Devils, and an annual rivalry game against Florida State (on the road this year).—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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News round-up FIFA plans to increase prize money and participation fees for the 48 competing nations at the World Cup.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Who’s this guy competing with in this room?—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Avoid ego battles with parents and bosses.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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Find out for yourself with its chaotic four-on-four battles.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The intimate High Tea will feature a forum-style discussion with Emmy-contending female directors whose creative vision is shaping the current and future TV landscape.—
William Earl,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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Critics contend prediction markets are circumventing states’ sports betting laws and operating in places that have banned the practice.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Dozens of onboard cameras capture the action during tight high-speed duels, while sensors stream more than 35,000 data points per second to onshore coaches.—
G.W. Allen,
Robb Report,
26 Apr. 2026
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Havertz’s smart movement, greater technical security, and a bit more nous in the duels help those around him to play better.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Beyond that, two of the highlights of the horse racing calendar take place at Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday, while the Formula One season resumes after a long hiatus with the Miami Grand Prix.—
The Athletic Live Team,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Police said the suspect had a shotgun, a handgun and knives, and stormed the lobby, running past security barricades as Secret Service agents raced toward him.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s also the trademark of Courtney (Balenciaga) Washington, a choreographer from the worlds of competition dance and vogue ballrooms.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Experts said its demise was not about competition but more about the company’s poor financial decisions, according to a Bloomberg report.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Describing this photo, documentary photographer Chantal Pinzi says that Ghita Jhaite's horse was agitated after a confrontation with other stallions that caused the rider to fall.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
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The sharp debate in Union Park is only the latest in a series of thorny confrontations about how best to manage homelessness in the Central Florida region, where housing costs are high, shelter space is scarce, and residents are concerned about people living in public spaces.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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