as in competing
to engage in a contest
eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival
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Recent Examples of facing off
As Operation Metro Surge got into full swing earlier this month, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents flooded into Minnesota, carrying out sweeping detentions and facing off with protesters in tense confrontations.
—
Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
For the first time, the defense attorney becomes the defendant, forced to fight for his own freedom while facing off against ruthless prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the confrontation shows Fanone and Raiklin facing off during a short break in Smith’s testimony as other former police officers in attendance try to pull Fanone back.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
The Food Network series returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1, with 32 chefs facing off in the kitchen.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Pre–lip sync, the two comedy queens of the season, Myki and Jane, double-teaming a description of the queens facing off.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
The first 30 minutes had the disjointed, stop-start look of two freshmen quarterbacks facing off, struggling to find their respective rhythms early.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
So, two or more House incumbents could end up facing off in the November 2026 general election.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Canadian Thanksgiving, with the Toronto Blue Jays facing off against the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
For the first time, the defense attorney becomes the defendant, forced to fight for his own freedom while facing off against ruthless prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the confrontation shows Fanone and Raiklin facing off during a short break in Smith’s testimony as other former police officers in attendance try to pull Fanone back.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
The Food Network series returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1, with 32 chefs facing off in the kitchen.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Pre–lip sync, the two comedy queens of the season, Myki and Jane, double-teaming a description of the queens facing off.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
The first 30 minutes had the disjointed, stop-start look of two freshmen quarterbacks facing off, struggling to find their respective rhythms early.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
So, two or more House incumbents could end up facing off in the November 2026 general election.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Canadian Thanksgiving, with the Toronto Blue Jays facing off against the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
competing
Verb
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Sometimes this takes the form of competing in different heats in the same final where the best run counts, such as with freeski events.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Yet there’s also an avalanche of more urgent issues competing for officials’ attention, like federal agents’ killing of a US citizen on Saturday.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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