Thesaurus results for FACES OFF

faces off

verb

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

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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 Democrats find themselves in a similar situation this year, as a young up-and-comer faces off against a GOP opponent widely seen as vulnerable. — Eleanor Dearman updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 As Crown, Jordan faces off against a former FBI agent (Adria Arjona) hunting him heist by heist. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 29 July 2026 With Kean running unopposed in the June 2 Republican primary, whichever Democrat faces off against him in November will almost certainly shape their campaign around his disappearance. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 May 2026 The singer faces off with Priestly just before an Italian fashion show performance. — Nigel Smith, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 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 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

The system is also intended to address situations where infrastructure competes with places that have historical, architectural or tourism value.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Amongst the crowd was Lee Brockhouse, 48, who also competes in amateur strongman events with a personal best of 455kg in the deadlift.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of competes

Verb

The lawsuit contends Hoskins' office illegally intervened in an April municipal election.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Kanter, who also played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz, contends his ticket arrangement wasn’t unusual or worrisome.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of contends

Verb

In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Finn Gomez / Getty Images Kirkwood, who races for Andretti Global, started second but took the lead on the opening lap with a daring maneuver around the outside of pole-sitter and championship leader Alex Palou in front of the National Archives.

— Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of races

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faces

faces off

faces up (to)

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“Faces off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces%20off. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of faces off

verb

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