FACE-OFFS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

face-offs

noun

plural of face-off

as in rivalries

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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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-offs The game followed a championship series filled with down-to-the-wire face-offs won by edge-of-your-seat buzzer beaters. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 June 2026 Much of the credit goes to the defense and to Andrew Golden, a junior who handles face-offs. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026 The plan is for the star forward to take face-offs again. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 The film’s centerpieces are the face-offs between Plemons’ Teddy and Stone’s CEO. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026 Turcotte has been an efficient point producer relative to his ice time, boasts strong two-way metrics, and has won nearly 56 percent of his face-offs this year. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 The film keeps pace through toe-curlingly tense table tennis face-offs, high-stakes hustles, and a jaw-dropping scene involving a bathtub that honestly puts Saltburn to shame. — Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025 Several of these races have attracted attention beyond their city limits, for interesting face-offs or for their potential to signal where some states and districts could be leaning as next year's midterm elections draw closer. — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-offs

Noun

With these budding rivalries on the schedule on top of the six AFC East matchups, the Dolphins will have a lot to play for in 2026.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
The semifinal today resumes one of international soccer’s most bitter rivalries.

— Mark Hodge, NBC news, 15 July 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

As with many Latin American and African teams, Paraguay defend deep and are extremely physical in duels and aerial battles.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack.

— Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

The use of body cameras has largely garnered bipartisan agreement, particularly amid aggressive confrontations between federal agents and members of the public over the past year.

— Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Given that assaults with a firearm are more likely to lead to the death of the victim than assaults using other weapons, confrontations became deadlier.

— James Tuttle, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Corona Centennial, which doesn’t usually perform well in passing competitions (the Huskies like to let their running game set up the pass), started the morning 4-0 and didn’t lose until its final game.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
For many teams, however, time was limited by players arriving late from club competitions, creating a delicate balance between adapting sufficiently while still reaching the tournament physically and mentally fresh.

— Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Unlike basketball or baseball, pro football is far from the point where regular-season contests become meaningless, but that hasn’t stopped its fans from debating whether the NFL is sapping some of the magic that comes from football’s scarcity.

— Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Besides the contests for governor, Congress and 12 legislative seats, there are two local races for probate judge in Manchester and Bridgeport.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026

Definition of contests

Noun

Biden’s term was defined by a wide range of conflicts and achievements, from his handling of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to the passage of ambitious infrastructure and economic aid bills.

— Hillel Italie, Fortune, 15 July 2026
For instance, imagine users asking for advice on interpersonal conflicts or looking for feedback on work collaboration with international partners.

— Alexandra Figueroa, The Conversation, 14 July 2026

Definition of conflicts

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face off

face-offs

faces

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“Face-offs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-offs. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of face-offs

noun

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