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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 company now faces a larger test as deployments expand beyond a single vessel. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Gluesenkamp Perez faces a tough challenge from John Braun, the minority leader of the Washington state Senate. Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026 Russian forces have ramped up missile strikes on Ukrainian cities as Kyiv faces a shortage of air defense equipment. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 Its title reminiscent of Jessica Mitford’s 20th century muckraking, Gladwell’s latest faces the horror of gun violence in our country. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Hegseth faces mounting scrutiny as the US becomes further entrenched in the Iran war. Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The suspect, Michael Russ King, was arrested at the scene and faces a murder charge, according to police. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all under age 6 — who were found strangled at the family's home in January 2023. Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The Little Rock School District faces declining enrollment and financial challenges. Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Now the extraordinary, blossoming Matisse faces in the direction of the original site for which it was designed, like a living memory. George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 The nocturnal parrots with their owl-like faces remain critically endangered, conservationists say. Adela Suliman, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 In the campaign video, Kelce arrives at New York’s iconic The Plaza Hotel and greets a few familiar A-list faces before heading to his room to relax with an adorable, fluffy white dog. Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026 Langley attended Auburn before becoming one of the most recognizable faces in America. David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 New faces Safety Koi Perich (transfer from Minnesota), TE Andre Olesh (Penn State), QB Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), RB Simeon Price (Colorado), WR Iverson Hooks (UAB) and DB Carl Williams IV (Baylor). Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Women can’t attend school past sixth grade, work in most jobs, travel without a male relative accompanying them, uncover their faces in public, or even speak in public. The Week Us, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026 Rookie coach Jeff Hafley and new QB Malik Willis are the new faces of the Dolphins. ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 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
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
  • As Leanne confronts more change in Season 2, like turning 60 and coming to terms with aging parents that require more care, Carol remains a blunt support system.
    Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.
    Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 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
  • Throughout the journey, the conservationist, television host and executive producer encounters black bears, alligators and native fish while documenting active wildlife rescue and conservation efforts.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Every leader eventually encounters a mountain that cannot be crossed through vision alone.
    Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Parton turned extravagant blonde wigs, elaborate makeup, high heels, and sparkles into one of the most recognizable looks in entertainment.
    William Arruda, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • There has always been something compelling about Paul Baker, something about the interplay between his frat-star good looks and Canadian soft-boy heart.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This allows energy-harvesting technology to be integrated directly into architectural elements, such as skyscraper facades, glass windows, and skylights.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 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
  • Tommy is already a natural punk with his grimaces, British vocal inflections and wide-eyed expressions behind the drum kit.
    Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Back at the team bus, the high fives and handshakes wore grimaces.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Although the couple was worried about damaging the tiles underfoot with such footwear as high heels, the Penha Longa Resort events team assured them that all surfaces were meant to be walked on.
    Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Ice Dart belongs to a broader push in robotics called perching, an approach borrowed from nature that tries to give drones the ability to grab onto surfaces the way birds, insects, and geckos do.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Faces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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