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 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
  • Fender is also nominated for album of the year, artist of the year and alternative/rock act, while Dean competes in the album, artist, song and pop act fields.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Choose Chicago’s current budget of around $33 million is far below the spending of the cities Chicago competes with, like a $120 million budget in Orlando, Florida, or a budget north of $200 million in Las Vegas, Reynolds said.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Colorado Chamber of Commerce contends that the bill would create duplicative enforcement and regulatory systems.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The Justice Department contends both the mask ban and the ID law illegally interfere with the operation of the federal government, a violation of the Constitution’s supremacy clause, while California likens them to highway speed limits, which apply to everyone equally.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The officer quickly races into the arena, the more than 21-minute video released by the Pawtucket Police Department shows.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Pretending to be asleep, the girl desperately calls a family member who races to the house and calls 911 while on the road.
    Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 26 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 9 Mar. 2026.

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