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
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
While the face-off occurred during a break, Fanone also kept one F-bomb in reserve for the actual hearing.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
The preview premiered on Fox during the NFL AFC Championship game on Sunday evening while the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos’s face-off was on pause.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
While the face-off occurred during a break, Fanone also kept one F-bomb in reserve for the actual hearing.
—Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Many Kentuckians will tune in for Super Bowl LX as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks face off at Levi's Stadium.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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While there are teams, rivalries and even championships on the line, Lightner says the real goal goes far beyond the scoreboard.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Next on the line is a woman who is more gracious to Kendrick, but didn’t seem to get the memo that the East Coast-West Coast rivalry ended decades ago.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hurzeler is probably safe for the rest of the season before a summer review of how things stand for a club with ambitions to build on reaching Europe for the first time in 2022-23 by competing regularly in the top half of the table and for their first domestic silverware.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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There is also an alternate halftime show planned by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization cofounded by late activist Charlie Kirk, to compete with Bad Bunny's performance.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The star of the cache was a near-complete Iron Age battle trumpet, or carnyx — used to blare eerie sounds in battle and rally troops against the enemy.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Alain Hamel is credited with catching the giant flatfish, which was pulled through the ice after a two-and-a-half hour battle.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now, the Wolves are arguably a district title favorite, although Midlothian Heritage and Arlington Seguin certainly have showcased an ability to contend.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit contends that the city’s response amounted to ratification of discriminatory conduct inside the office tasked with enforcing civil rights protections.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Belgium international has started to utilise his physical traits, increasingly aggressive in duels and more willing to dominate his opponent.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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One of the most exciting playoff games in recent memory — a quarterback duel between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes — ended abruptly in a 42-36 Chiefs win when Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on an eight-yard touchdown pass.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Parallel giant slalom requires speed and precision as riders race side-by-side downhill, slaloming around the gates on two separate quasi-identical courses.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Vonn had faced questions about her decision to race on a torn ACL, a devastating injury that has ended athletic seasons for scores of athletes, recently for the NBA’s Jimmy Butler, the NFL’s Micah Parsons and the WNBA’s Cameron Brink.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Khelif has appealed the new policy that will keep the athlete out of any competitions pending the results of genetic testing.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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During the second annual competition in October, the team from La Marmotte restaurant, also located downtown, won with a concoction of Nikka Vodka, Luxardo Espresso liqueur, Irish cream, and Count Chocula and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereals.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Volunteers spoke of the risks of verbal and physical confrontations with ICE agents, including the use of pepper spray and other irritants against observers and even arrests.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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The columnists argue that voters want a governor focused on state-level problem-solving rather than someone using the office as a platform for national positioning or raising their profile through constant partisan confrontation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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