faces off

Definition of faces offnext
present tense third-person singular of face off
as in competes
to engage in a contest eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 off Pattinson can be heard as the announcer during the British Open semifinals scene toward the beginning of the A24 film, before Chalamet’s Marty Mauser faces off against Hungarian champion Bela Kletzki (Géza Röhrig). Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026 Every three years, the division faces off against a division from the NFC. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2026 Christopher plays Anatoly Sergievsky, a Soviet chess champion who faces off against an American (Aaron Tveit), with a woman caught between them (Lea Michele). Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025 Before Alabama faces off against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Saban offered a word of warning to head coach Kalen DeBoer and his Crimson Tide. Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faces off
Verb
  • Pollard heads to the Berlinale as a film he executive produced, The Perfect Neighbor, competes for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Only one person competes, pushing the sled at the start and piloting down the course at speeds of 70 to 80 mph.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Lee contends that investors are not fully valuing the resiliency of Ares Capital's software-lending business.
    , CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Claire O’Callaghan, a senior lecturer in Victorian literature at Loughborough University, contends that’s the whole point.
    Arushi Jacob, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Bowe, who races in the women’s 500 meters on Sunday, has Olympic bronze medals in the team pursuit and the 1,000 meters and holds the world record in her signature distance.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Supported 3 previous Democratic candidates races for HD-64.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Faces off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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