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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Recent Examples of face-off
Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Gaffney scored his team-leading 18th game of the season following a face-off win by Wahlin in the offensive zone midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie in the Tommies’ 2-1 win over Augustana.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Texas will take on Kentucky, Michigan will face off with Louisville, South Carolina takes on Oklahoma, and TCU takes on Virginia.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
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
Gaffney scored his team-leading 18th game of the season following a face-off win by Wahlin in the offensive zone midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie in the Tommies’ 2-1 win over Augustana.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the space of a single week, the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island, temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports, allowed Iranian tankers carrying crude to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz en route to China, and faced off with Chinese officials in Paris for trade talks.
—Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Texas will take on Kentucky, Michigan will face off with Louisville, South Carolina takes on Oklahoma, and TCU takes on Virginia.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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Their rivalry reached its peak in 2018, when the two engaged in an on-court brawl during a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
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Their relationship starts as pure rivalry, shifts into a friends-with-benefits arrangement and eventually evolves into a full romantic relationship across the six-episode first season.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the market for preterm nutrition, Abbott and Mead Johnson compete with each other, not against the use of human milk, the companies told KFF Health News.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Any organization with 50 or more employees in the state is eligible to compete for a Top Workplaces award.—
Bob Helbig,
Freep.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Three months into faith leaders’ legal battle, they were allowed back inside the facility in February for Ash Wednesday after a court order granted limited access.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the midst of a restitution battle, records show that Kilpatrick is at risk of losing a home in Novi over more than $50,000 in unpaid property taxes.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Others contend that legitimizing him erodes Democratic credibility on antisemitism and other issues, handing Republicans ammunition heading into the midterms.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the president contends there is no excuse for the lack of participation now that Iran's navy has been sunk and its air defenses severely weakened.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Paolo Banchero prevailed in a duel with DeMar DeRozan, putting up 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead the Magic to a 121-117 victory over the Kings at Kia Center in Orlando.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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The opposing sides spent roughly the first two years of the war engaged in a lopsided artillery duel along the front, which stretched for more than 600 miles.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Families raced to the airport as divers searched the icy Potomac.—
Sharyn Alfonsi,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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But the pictures of Jane and Adam in her wallet in the safe triggered a wave of negative thoughts racing through my mind.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For the seventh year in a row, Walmart captured more money from Charlotte-area shoppers than any other grocery store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
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The timing matters as robotics competition heats up This legislation comes at a moment when China is rapidly advancing in robotics.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The confrontation was set off in July of 1956, when Egypt’s ruler, Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser, a charismatic populist, nationalized the Anglo-French company that had operated the canal since its creation in 1869, during the colonial era.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The tense and often violent confrontations outside the Broadview facility included questionable tactics by the federal officers with their use of tear gas and less-lethal munitions on demonstrators.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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