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
The Mission League’s quality shines through the Open Division semifinals, with three of four remaining teams from the conference facing off next week.
—
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Democrats Wendy Meister and Jaclyn Rodriguez are facing off in the upcoming primary for Lake County Board District 3, a seat that will be left open by outgoing Republican board veteran Ann Maine, with each carrying county leadership endorsements but from different branches.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s gauntlet of a postseason doesn’t get any easier in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots facing off against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Democrats Wendy Meister and Jaclyn Rodriguez are facing off in the upcoming primary for Lake County Board District 3, a seat that will be left open by outgoing Republican board veteran Ann Maine, with each carrying county leadership endorsements but from different branches.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s gauntlet of a postseason doesn’t get any easier in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots facing off against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
competing
Verb
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Three incumbents and one challenger are competing for three open seats on the board of commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, a low-profile but surprisingly big and important special purpose government agency serving Cook County.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags.—
Mariia Kashchenko,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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