1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
a chess match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in marriages
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people
from all appearances those two have got a good match there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in halves
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities
I can't find the match to this sock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in equivalents
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
for a wife he wants a woman who will be his match in every aspect of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pictures
something or someone that strongly resembles another
Erin is so nearly my exact match you'd think she must be my twin and not just my cousin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the discussion soon degenerated into a pointless shouting match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complements
to be the exact counterpart of
does this handbag's shade of blue match my navy blue pants? the rare blood type that exactly matched that of the transplant recipient
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in meets
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value)
no one has ever been able to match that novel for its portrayal of the horrors of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of matches
Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
But since the start of the 2025-2026 season, six schools have either forfeited or canceled matches against the team.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But Guler is a key player under Alonso and will continue to start many matches, especially if the coach plays two forwards instead of three, which would reduce competition in midfield.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
The lowest price ticket for group stage matches will be $60, while the most expensive ticket price for the World Cup final will be set at $6,730 for a Category 1 ticket during the World Cup final.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
San Jose hotel operators hope to capitalize on the Super Bowl, multiple matches for the FIFA World Cup, and several of the games of the men’s college basketball tournament that are being held in the South Bay in 2026.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In the latest video, the rapper shows off a new box set edition of the album—including a bright yellow vinyl, which perfectly matches her hair color.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Sep. 2025
For the child with an active imagination, give them a bed frame that matches their rambunctious energy.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
What’s more important to consider is whether the approach matches the nature of the problem and the partners’ ability to handle it.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The company can’t pick and choose which matches to acquire, even though viewers only watch a handful.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
This has led Alonso to give him playing time in all three La Liga matches so far, but a total of 22 minutes (and that coming at a time when Bellingham and Camavinga aren’t available) doesn’t seem to promise much for the season ahead.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
The system matches stable patterns to stored representations without requiring physical interaction.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The distance coincidentally matches the length of Elizabeth’s walk, but there are other similarities, too.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, winning eight matches and halving another to clinch the Cup by half a point.
—Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
But since the start of the 2025-2026 season, six schools have either forfeited or canceled matches against the team.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But Guler is a key player under Alonso and will continue to start many matches, especially if the coach plays two forwards instead of three, which would reduce competition in midfield.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
The lowest price ticket for group stage matches will be $60, while the most expensive ticket price for the World Cup final will be set at $6,730 for a Category 1 ticket during the World Cup final.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
San Jose hotel operators hope to capitalize on the Super Bowl, multiple matches for the FIFA World Cup, and several of the games of the men’s college basketball tournament that are being held in the South Bay in 2026.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Authorities are trying to see if the person in custody matches the person in the security footage, Mason said.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In the latest video, the rapper shows off a new box set edition of the album—including a bright yellow vinyl, which perfectly matches her hair color.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 Sep. 2025
For the child with an active imagination, give them a bed frame that matches their rambunctious energy.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025
What’s more important to consider is whether the approach matches the nature of the problem and the partners’ ability to handle it.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The company can’t pick and choose which matches to acquire, even though viewers only watch a handful.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
This has led Alonso to give him playing time in all three La Liga matches so far, but a total of 22 minutes (and that coming at a time when Bellingham and Camavinga aren’t available) doesn’t seem to promise much for the season ahead.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
The system matches stable patterns to stored representations without requiring physical interaction.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
The distance coincidentally matches the length of Elizabeth’s walk, but there are other similarities, too.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
-
Since reaching the Australian Open final, where Sinner beat him comprehensively, Zverev has won six Grand Slam matches in three tournaments.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Fishing is such serious sport here that one of the biggest tournaments in the country, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, attracts anglers from all over the world every June.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Top bottom halves of biscuits with patties, about 2 tablespoons of the hash browns, and top halves of biscuits, cut sides down.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The Packers played one of their better first halves in a while and led, 17-3, at the break.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The International Energy Agency has reported that two-thirds of fully electric cars in China are now cheaper to buy than their gasoline equivalents.—
Jack Barkenbus,
The Conversation,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Americans live shorter lives than their European equivalents, McClatchy News reported in April, but the trend of stagnant life expectancy appears to be afflicting European nations the same, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There were reporters and photographers all around, clamoring for interviews and pictures.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Hanson has always been a great fashion photographer, especially good at capturing feminine exuberance, but the span of time that has passed since these pictures were taken now establishes them as bona-fide historical artifacts to boot.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Premiering in 2011, the edgy comedy follows Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig) as her life unravels while serving as maid of honor for her best friend Lillian Donovan (Maya Rudolph), leading to a string of wedding planning mishaps and bridal party rivalries.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The space complements the retailer’s unique assortment of apparel and accessories, which for the anniversary will be further enriched by a selection of Gigli’s archival pieces, in a nod to Zambeletti’s roots and homage to the designer that sparked her fashion journey.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Notably, covers that include V of BTS are dominating fans’ feeds, with many appreciating how well the superstar’s voice complements BIBI.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
North Carolina classifies bigamy as a Class I felony, and the charge can result in imprisonment for anyone who knowingly marries while still legally married to another person.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Sleek architecture marries centuries-old fortresses—while locals swap skis for kayaks, depending on the season.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although the crushed velvet exteriors are the most eye-catching details of the shoes, there’s more to them than what meets the eye.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Pokémon meets Animal Crossing Although a new mainline entry in the Pokémon series is due out this year, Nintendo isn’t letting that stop them from pushing out more games next year timed to the series’ 30th anniversary in Japan.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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