faces 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of face
1
as in fronts
to stand or sit with the face or front toward the house faces the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean

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Relevance
2
3
4
as in encounters
to enter into contest or conflict with the Boston Red Sox were eager to face their traditional rivals, the Yankees, in the play-offs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

faces

2 of 2

noun

plural of face
1
as in looks
the front part of the head the criminal hid his face from the news cameras as he slumped into the patrol car

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2
as in facades
a forward part or surface the face of the store building has been altered many times over the years to meet changing tastes and needs

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3
as in grimaces
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval it's rude to make a face when your dinner hostess offers you broccoli

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4
as in surfaces
an outer part or layer a much-needed sandblasting revealed that the face of the old stone church is actually a pinkish granite

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5
as in expressions
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling a rainy day is no excuse for just moping around with a long face, so let's do something

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6
7

Example Sentences

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 faces
Verb
The guidance could have been even higher if not for supply constraints, as the company grapples with shortages in parts like memory, which faces a global crunch due to AI buildouts. Kif Leswing, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The Little Rock School District faces declining enrollment and financial challenges. Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 Lawrence faces multiple charges, including grand theft of motor vehicle parts, burglary conspiracy, grand theft conspiracy, and criminal solicitation. Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 The first-term governor faces a safe reelection this fall but is a potential 2028 presidential contender. Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026 Joey McGuire’s team also faces the easiest schedule in the league, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Two more bellwether cases remain scheduled for trial in October, and Meta faces thousands more similar lawsuits that are currently pending. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 Graham now faces Charleston Democrat Annie Andrews in the November midterms, where she is favored. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Hernandez faces two federal counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death. Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
The returning season will see new faces, and the return of the couple’s mothers, Penny Baines and Sarah Wigley, plus Sophie’s sister Georgia Habboo, and Jamie’s best-friend, Oliver Proudlock. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 With two new faces running the show, the Dolphins are set to have the second-hardest schedule in the league. Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Winters are long here, bringing a smile to the faces of winter sports enthusiasts. Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Sagal blew out the candles on her cake while partygoers watched with smiles on their faces. Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026 Where Hampton has really stood out, though, is with his ability — in the words of the iconic Marshawn Lynch — to run through faces. Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 As people walked into the building, many faces showed shock and awe. Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Like many patients in the emergency department, she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces moving quickly in and out of the room. Zain Khawaja, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026 That said, a few recognizable faces from previous Dream Stages were there, which is great for the fans on stage but can feel a bit unfair to those who have auditioned multiple times and were never given the opportunity. Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faces
Verb
  • Mike Love still fronts The Beach Boys on their busy 2026 touring schedule.
    Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Irongate also would have sidewalks where the site fronts state right-of-way, the developers said.
    Joe Marusak July 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Denver's budget problems The legal spending comes as Denver confronts a $200 million budget deficit this year.
    Brian Maass, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Venus confronts Saturn today, asking you to examine the cost of running on autopilot.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The plastic that encases laundry pods dissolves and rinses out with the excess water.
    Katelyn Chef, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
  • The faux hair encases her locs, allowing the blonde to be the focal point of the look.
    Larry Stansbury, InStyle, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • The character of Hichem is an upright and honest man, who encounters financial hurdles.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Through four series, Spartacus encounters brutal battles, heart-rending betrayals, and more.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Her looks are characterized by a natural, relaxed elegance, featuring flowing dresses, lightweight fabrics, and details reminiscent of 1970s fashion.
    Laura Tortora, Glamour, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Cobalt blue is back in electric form, worn in monochromatic looks or styled with neutrals; Givenchy paired it with navy and Jil Sander with gray.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The team says the material could eventually be used in energy recovery ventilation, building facades, thermal comfort systems and other building applications.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The bakery first opened at a location across the street in 1894, with the year emblazoned on the historic building’s facades.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Back at the team bus, the high fives and handshakes wore grimaces.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The girls dropped out of school and moved to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, to work long hours in a restaurant, where they were exposed to sharp tools, hot surfaces and heavy lifting.
    Aniruddha Ghosal, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Measles can spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and the virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with infection leaves the area.
    Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Faces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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