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

Relevance

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
  • To do what was once unthinkable in the fashion the Sabres did this season starts with Dahlin, a leader who wears his heart on his sleeve every night and competes over every inch of the ice.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Over the past three seasons, Wrexham has been promoted three straight times and now competes in the English Football League Championship, one step below the top-level Premier League.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Agarwal, however, contends that the congressman doesn’t fully understand the needs of the Valley’s core industry, which employs a large swath of constituents in the district.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Additionally, the suit contends that despite being placed on administrative leave from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office in September, Fatherley has been allowed to access and use his work email address, violating Wyandotte County’s employee policies.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 11 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Faces off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faces%20off. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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