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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Taylor, 30, now faces a potential sentence of life in prison. Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 But, the analyst added, the company faces a cascade of issues. Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 27 June 2026 If convicted as charged, Decastro faces a maximum sentence of 6 years in state prison. Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 2 July 2026 Lebanon faces internal strife over a peace framework with Israel, rejected by Hezbollah. Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Look at the racial hostility that Caitlin Clark faces from Black players and media members on a nightly basis. Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Walmart's investment comes as the optical industry faces increasing demand for workers. Casey Mann, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2026 The former Esparto volunteer firefighter faces 12 felony charges involving the possession and transportation of explosives. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 On Monday, McFarlane and two friends were outside the fencing, leaning against the metal barriers in front of the Department of Agriculture, which faces the National Mall. Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
Big names and big faces on television are bound to have their critics. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Then the movie ended, and someone flicked the lights, and people wiped their faces and checked their apps and the door opened for a chilly evening breeze. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 Back home that night, dues paid to god, the women slathered their faces with turmeric cream and went to bed, bitter-smelling, sorry for themselves on that night as every night. Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 How does any network get the audience excited to watch the same faces accept their third, fourth, or fifth award for the same show and same category? Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 July 2026 However, there were some unexpected famous faces among the crowd packing the venue on Friday evening. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 The mother-daughter pair—who subtly coordinated their looks for the sporty occasion—were spotted chatting with fans covering their faces while in the royal box. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 4 July 2026 The sequel features new faces like Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny and Eminem alongside returning cast members like Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald. Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 The unfamiliar faces include day-trippers driving in from South Carolina, Tennessee and other parts of North Carolina to spend several hours floating down the French Broad River for around $30 per person, Anderson said. Mae Anderson, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faces
Verb
  • The Sphere, a longtime vision for the mogul (who fronts his own band JD and the Straight Shot), had launched with concert experiences from the likes of U2, the Eagles, Dead & Company, Backstreet Boys and Metallica.
    Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • The magnetic Sadio Mané fronts his country with pride and punchiness.
    Christopher Hamill, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • While celebrating this enduring model, the nation confronts serious challenges and concerning efforts to suppress civic groups.
    Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • When ambitious young athlete Jamal (Stenline) enters her life and confronts the dangerous world around her, everything fractures.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 1 July 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
  • Even in areas where sharks are commonly found, encounters with people rarely end in bites, Heithaus said.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • There the whole family encounters their corresponding foils from the well-off Oleson family, but Laura and Mary's encounter with young Nellie proves the most explosive.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The couple wore custom looks by Christian Dior Haute Couture, along with Christian Louboutin shoes.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Their wedding ceremony looks were been created by Christian Dior Haute Couture, designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.
    Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • But while Duval Street’s colorful facades and lively restaurants attract the crowds, the best seat in town is arguably offshore.
    Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • And yet, the wry grimaces that followed said the quiet part out loud.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 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 most notable finds were a group of gold coins dated to the reign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361, and a collection of about 200 ostraca—pottery fragments used as writing surfaces—inscribed in Coptic and Greek.
    Anne Doran for ARTnews, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
  • Clean and sanitize utensils and food-prep surfaces before and after use.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Faces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on faces

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster