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
Tom Carothers, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Not ideal optics for this close to face-off.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
The United States and Canada will face off in an Olympic final for a seventh time since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Games.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Minnesota put 29 shots on Ohio State goaltender Sam Hillebrandt, but came up empty except for Lamb’s wrister from inside the face-off circle.
—Tom Carothers, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Not ideal optics for this close to face-off.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The two sides will face off on Sunday.
—CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
The United States and Canada will face off in an Olympic final for a seventh time since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Games.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
-
Camden, who came to Cal as a transfer from Delaware, knew enough about the rivalry to get things right, almost.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Texas State's focus remains on the present, but Friday night, fans saw the seeds of a conference rivalry being sewn.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Yet Gu bet on herself, not only in this event, but even daring to compete in three Winter Olympic events — slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air — the only female freestyle skier to do so.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Hughes said the brothers, who roomed together, kept their door open all week and personally spoke to every single American athlete competing in Milan who stayed at the village.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Britain had split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before that colony gained independence, something that has been a source of diplomatic friction as well as multiple legal battles with locals who were evicted.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Manuelian contends Fathizadeh had momentarily gone to the kitchen to turn off a stove and stir oatmeal, and did not realize two of the children had gone to the pool area, where the pool gate was usually locked.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit further contends that the current special education reimbursement rate is unconstitutionally deficient.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On July 11, 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot his longtime political rival, former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, in a duel.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Both nearly scored the golden goal to end the spectacular goaltending duel.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Soon everyone is racing around the infirmary.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Mathurin then raced down the floor only to miss a 25-footer as time expired.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For the first time in four Winter Games, a Russian woman did not win gold in the singles competition.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The global theatrical business has recovered faster, post-COVID, than the domestic market, and in most major international territories, there is still healthy competition, with multiple large and mid-sized buyers able to bid on buzz titles.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to reports, multiple cartel members were also killed during the confrontation.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
22 Feb. 2026
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One video shows a police officer grab a minor by their neck and take them to the ground during the confrontation.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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