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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of matches
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Recently, these matches have been reduced to one a year — or none at all — against teams that are less appealing to the public, or have become vehicles for political protest, such as November’s match against Palestine.
—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Almost none ask whether the work being assigned matches what the people doing it are genuinely capable of.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Balogun has scored three goals in three World Cup matches, including the first goal of yesterday's game.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Some of those steps include starting to save as young as possible to take advantage of compound growth, maximizing 401(k) contributions to receive company matches, considering Roth accounts to save on taxes later and keeping debt to a minimum, experts said.
—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
Klose scored his 16 goals while playing in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.
—
Stephen Hawkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Those matches will certainly raise the excitement for AEW’s biggest show of the year later this summer.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
When the results came back from a genome sequencing laboratory, they were handed off to FHD Forensics, a company that matches DNA with historical genealogy records to identify unknown human remains.
—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Just over 84 per cent of his corners were inswingers in the Premier League last season, while his five outswingers on Wednesday almost matches his tally of seven from the entire 2025-26 club season.
—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
That matches reporting from last October from The Hollywood Reporter.
—
David Hookstead Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Bronze ivy on both sides of the medallion matches the Boston ivy that covers the outfield walls.
—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Offer a deliverable that matches your real bandwidth, with no guilt and no secrecy.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Starter Eric Lauer battles erratic fastball command and early damage yet completes six innings, while the Rays’ Nick Martinez matches him before a bullpen misstep to Rojas decides a tight opener.
—
Liana Handler
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Some war-weary Republicans were eager to endorse the agreement — if the fine print matches the administration’s summary.
—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
Having again successfully navigated three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw here, Liu has now won five consecutive matches at Wimbledon.
—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 July 2026
Recently, these matches have been reduced to one a year — or none at all — against teams that are less appealing to the public, or have become vehicles for political protest, such as November’s match against Palestine.
—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Almost none ask whether the work being assigned matches what the people doing it are genuinely capable of.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Balogun has scored three goals in three World Cup matches, including the first goal of yesterday's game.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 July 2026
Some of those steps include starting to save as young as possible to take advantage of compound growth, maximizing 401(k) contributions to receive company matches, considering Roth accounts to save on taxes later and keeping debt to a minimum, experts said.
—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
Klose scored his 16 goals while playing in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.
—
Stephen Hawkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Those matches will certainly raise the excitement for AEW’s biggest show of the year later this summer.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Verb
On the other hand, the Sapphire Preferred’s 100,000-point bonus (after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening) matches the all-time best intro bonus for this card.
—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
When the results came back from a genome sequencing laboratory, they were handed off to FHD Forensics, a company that matches DNA with historical genealogy records to identify unknown human remains.
—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Just over 84 per cent of his corners were inswingers in the Premier League last season, while his five outswingers on Wednesday almost matches his tally of seven from the entire 2025-26 club season.
—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
That matches reporting from last October from The Hollywood Reporter.
—
David Hookstead Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
Bronze ivy on both sides of the medallion matches the Boston ivy that covers the outfield walls.
—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Offer a deliverable that matches your real bandwidth, with no guilt and no secrecy.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Starter Eric Lauer battles erratic fastball command and early damage yet completes six innings, while the Rays’ Nick Martinez matches him before a bullpen misstep to Rojas decides a tight opener.
—
Liana Handler
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Some war-weary Republicans were eager to endorse the agreement — if the fine print matches the administration’s summary.
—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
-
Croatia has reached the semifinals of the last two tournaments, but its golden generation is aging.
-
Volleyball courts can be found at several local beaches, some of which also host beach volleyball tournaments throughout the year.
Noun
-
Junior talent now learns strategy earlier while AI handles repetitive production, giving humans more space for taste, storytelling and relationships.
-
Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Noun
-
Turning a game of two halves into one of four quarters, pausing a sport that derives much of its power and mystique from a clock that never stops, has been universally unpopular.
-
In one week this month, Washington moved on both halves of the AI power problem, and only one of them made the headlines.
Noun
-
Google describes the resulting deployment as about 50 server-equivalents worth of compute at a fraction of the usual cost.
-
Among them are selfie sticks (or equivalents), oversized hats, clothing bearing political statements and large flags.
Noun
-
Other pictures on unofficial Telegram channels showed residents crowding into underground stations.
-
Ranging from the film pioneer Georges Méliès all the way through 2024’s Anora, Thomson’s survey covers silent pictures, the talkies, the studio era, the New Hollywood, and the age of streaming.
Noun
-
At a time when the news cycle seems to serve up nothing but conflict, crisis and woe, the World Cup offers shelter, a truly international event in which conflict is defined by long-term sports rivalries and questionable referee decisions.
-
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA's greatest rivalries into two of the game's greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.
Verb
-
Known for building a global brand rooted in food, energy, and authenticity, Fieri brings a perspective that complements Legacy Motor Club's evolution into a modern motorsports organization that resonates far beyond the track.
-
Crucially, the country excels at connecting academia—with top-tier universities that produce world-class research which complements technical universities that provide specialized apprenticeships—and the private sector.
Verb
-
These strappy platform sandals, now 40 percent off, are designed with the brand’s Feel Good Foam Insole technology, which marries plush cushioning with bouncy support.
-
In the one that opens the film, Forky (Tony Hale), the googly-eyed spork, marries a plastic knife called Karen Beverly (Melissa Villaseñor), a name so perfectly unmelodious that only a kid, or an adult exceptionally good at thinking like one, could have concocted it.
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
