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 Jordan's character, a billionaire, faces off against a former FBI agent (played by Adria Arjona). Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026 These people have already drunk their faces off. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026 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
  • Lukas Prock, a former Wellesley standout quarterback, now competes for The Hun School in New Jersey.
    Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
  • This is the energy that initiates, competes and takes up space without apology.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Abbott contends the policy weakens statewide coordination with federal authorities.
    Jack Fink, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The piece contends that while rumors circulated among political gossips and online, these remained unsubstantiated whispers that did not meet journalism’s evidentiary threshold for publication.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With the support of his wife Chiyoho (Yoshitaka), Murashige races to uncover the truth before the castle falls.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Some Senate races in what should be Republican strongholds are suddenly looking tighter that expected.
    Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.

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