as in competing
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 facing off
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have been at the forefront of this surging popularity, becoming the first two women to headline at Madison Square Garden in 2022 before facing off again as the co-main event to Mike Tyson and Jake Paul last year.
—
George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
After their matchup against Alabama on Saturday, Vanderbilt will go into their bye week before then facing off against LSU in Week 8, Missouri in Week 9, and Texas in Week 10, three teams that are all ranked in the AP Top 25.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Second Dinner recently ran two Video Quests on Mobile featuring fan favorites Venom, Thor, and Spider-Man facing off in a superhero battle.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
This is when fans can submit ticket applications for individual group-stage matches (the tournament’s opening round that features groups of teams facing off round robin–style before the teams with the best records advance into the single-elimination knockout-round bracket).
—Meredith Heil Bock, AFAR Media, 25 Sep. 2025
The show is facing off against Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Slow Horses, and The White Lotus in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
—Rebecca Detken, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Maye was constantly under siege behind a leaky offensive line facing off against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles’ pass rush.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Hello Alice is facing off against a movement that has lately gained momentum.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
One of those new additions, RHP Chris Paddack, is getting the start on Tuesday, with All-Star Casey Mize facing off against the Twins on Monday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
After their matchup against Alabama on Saturday, Vanderbilt will go into their bye week before then facing off against LSU in Week 8, Missouri in Week 9, and Texas in Week 10, three teams that are all ranked in the AP Top 25.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Second Dinner recently ran two Video Quests on Mobile featuring fan favorites Venom, Thor, and Spider-Man facing off in a superhero battle.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
This is when fans can submit ticket applications for individual group-stage matches (the tournament’s opening round that features groups of teams facing off round robin–style before the teams with the best records advance into the single-elimination knockout-round bracket).
—Meredith Heil Bock, AFAR Media, 25 Sep. 2025
The show is facing off against Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Slow Horses, and The White Lotus in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
—Rebecca Detken, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Maye was constantly under siege behind a leaky offensive line facing off against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles’ pass rush.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Hello Alice is facing off against a movement that has lately gained momentum.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
One of those new additions, RHP Chris Paddack, is getting the start on Tuesday, with All-Star Casey Mize facing off against the Twins on Monday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
Verb
-
Young professionals may seek a financial advisor to help juggle competing financial priorities while building their career.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
How Vancouver decides to move forward, given these delicate, competing priorities, will shape this upcoming season.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet Harris discovered that being a good soldier doesn’t necessarily help when the vice president is contending for the highest elective office in the land.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As the New York Knicks gear up for what could be a title-contending season in 2025-26, the head coach that led them to their most success this century was spotted several time zones away.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share