Synonyms of face-offs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rivalries
• battles
• duels
• confrontations
• competitions
• struggles
• contests
• conflicts
• wars
• contentions
• matches
• warfares
• clashes
• dogfights
• strifes
• sweepstakes
• ball games
• showdowns
• combats
• debates
• tugs-of-war
• disputes
• collisions
• grapples
• nail-biters
• disputations
• quarrels
• horse races
• arguments
• controversies
• disagreements
• frictions
• discords
• rows
• dissensions
• wrangles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harmonies
• concords
• peaces

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of face-offs

Teddy Blueger’s impressive return Contenders are always looking for extra insurance down the middle, especially for centres like Teddy Blueger, who are sound penalty killers and can win face-offs at an above-average rate. —Harman Dayal, New York Times, 23 Jan. 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