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
This was the Scottish Cup football quarterfinal in March, where the two rival teams were facing off for the 451st time.
—
Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
The concept emerged in response to Germany’s Panzer forces facing off against the heavier Char B-1 and Matilda II tanks during the Battle of France.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
Two candidates in the race for Frisco's next mayor are also facing off one more time for the role.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 19 May 2026
That’s to be expected for a team few thought would make the playoffs at the start of the year, facing off against the league’s top regular-season team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The Patriots have a more difficult path to the postseason this year, facing off against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
In Yolo County, Ryan Davis, a former public defender who currently serves as a Superior Court Commissioner hearing family law cases in Sacramento County, is facing off against Diane Ortiz, a Yolo County Deputy District Attorney.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Castro, who was elected to the commission in April 2023 and is frequently at odds with Lago, will be facing off against first-time candidate Nestor Menendez, an of-counsel attorney at DiFalco and Fernandez LLLP, for her Group 4 seat.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Other moments involve the pair facing off with wild animals.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
The concept emerged in response to Germany’s Panzer forces facing off against the heavier Char B-1 and Matilda II tanks during the Battle of France.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
Two candidates in the race for Frisco's next mayor are also facing off one more time for the role.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 19 May 2026
That’s to be expected for a team few thought would make the playoffs at the start of the year, facing off against the league’s top regular-season team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The Patriots have a more difficult path to the postseason this year, facing off against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
In Yolo County, Ryan Davis, a former public defender who currently serves as a Superior Court Commissioner hearing family law cases in Sacramento County, is facing off against Diane Ortiz, a Yolo County Deputy District Attorney.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Castro, who was elected to the commission in April 2023 and is frequently at odds with Lago, will be facing off against first-time candidate Nestor Menendez, an of-counsel attorney at DiFalco and Fernandez LLLP, for her Group 4 seat.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Other moments involve the pair facing off with wild animals.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
competing
Verb
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Her husband's concerns included competing against Amazon, but Hartnett went ahead and opened Double Dog Bookshop in 2025 as a mobile store.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
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But with no ruling expected until June, Pepper-Jackson was left to continue competing throughout the athlete's high school season.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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