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
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The Ponies have 14 shutouts, allowing just eight goals in 20 matches.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
The Tigers took down Bishop Feehan, Brookline, Natick, Needham (twice), Wellesley (twice) and Winchester, falling only in away matches against Brookline and Natick.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
This mode will have 100-player matches where classic battle royale gameplay gets mixed into the Battlefield 6 formula.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
As Santa Clara becomes the first city ever to host the Super Bowl and World Cup matches in a calendar year, San Jose has spent significant time focusing on creating events around the big games.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Because taking league matches to America, Australia, Saudi Arabia or anywhere else would be an act of aggression.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
Physical verification checks whether a chip layout meets the manufacturer’s strict rules and faithfully matches the original functional schematic.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
The officer sends the scarf to forensics to check if the stain matches Joe’s blood.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Now the setting matches the standard delivered by the players and fans.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Now, New York City Ballet’s costume department is helmed by Marc Happel, who’s responsible for making sure each outfit matches a particular dancer’s skin tone, can accommodate their range of motion throughout the evening, and maintains its integrity in relation to Karinska’s initial vision.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Only Michelle Obama matches his popularity in the party.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Their contributions have helped the Hornets enter the second week of the season tied for the most points per game at 132, which matches the output of the Denver Nuggets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
For streamers, the issue of local investment is becoming more and more pressing, with most countries now working on some form of levy or quota that matches, at least in part, the content obligations placed on local broadcasters.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Ellison family bought Paramount from its previous controlling shareholders, the Redstones, in August and more cost cutting has been anticipated, even as new management has spent millions to acquire rights to show UFC matches as well as the digital opinion site The Free Press.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The Ponies have 14 shutouts, allowing just eight goals in 20 matches.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
The Tigers took down Bishop Feehan, Brookline, Natick, Needham (twice), Wellesley (twice) and Winchester, falling only in away matches against Brookline and Natick.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
This mode will have 100-player matches where classic battle royale gameplay gets mixed into the Battlefield 6 formula.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
As Santa Clara becomes the first city ever to host the Super Bowl and World Cup matches in a calendar year, San Jose has spent significant time focusing on creating events around the big games.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Because taking league matches to America, Australia, Saudi Arabia or anywhere else would be an act of aggression.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Still, no small arm matches its raw stopping power within its effective range.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
Physical verification checks whether a chip layout meets the manufacturer’s strict rules and faithfully matches the original functional schematic.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
The officer sends the scarf to forensics to check if the stain matches Joe’s blood.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Now the setting matches the standard delivered by the players and fans.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Now, New York City Ballet’s costume department is helmed by Marc Happel, who’s responsible for making sure each outfit matches a particular dancer’s skin tone, can accommodate their range of motion throughout the evening, and maintains its integrity in relation to Karinska’s initial vision.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Only Michelle Obama matches his popularity in the party.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Their contributions have helped the Hornets enter the second week of the season tied for the most points per game at 132, which matches the output of the Denver Nuggets.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
For streamers, the issue of local investment is becoming more and more pressing, with most countries now working on some form of levy or quota that matches, at least in part, the content obligations placed on local broadcasters.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
-
Collins’ 2025 season in Grand Slam tournaments didn’t exactly go as planned.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Houston has made at least the second weekend in six consecutive NCAA tournaments.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Over the last five games, the Bengals have allowed 117 points in the second halves of games.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Each game is divided into quarters or halves, depending on the level of play.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
By 1974, though, many women had already discarded those notions as instruments of domination, psychic equivalents of the whalebone corset.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Ancient book clasps — used to keep manuscript tomes shut — were uncovered at the site, along with styli, the medieval equivalents of pens and pencils.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The video showed dozens of videos and pictures sent to her, all featuring people eating McDonald's fries as a show of solidarity.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Go through a corn maze, sip on apple cider, and take silly pictures with the cardboard cutouts.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Beijing’s talent-friendly move could also give it a boost amid continuing trade tensions and tech rivalries with Washington, which has imposed export controls on chips and other advanced technology that are spurring China to develop its own.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Lewis, a tight end at Wisconsin from 2004-07, traces his appreciation for rivalries to his Big Ten roots.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dynamic play from Addie Finlaw and Ella Vaught complements him, while midfielder Emma Cormier and Meg Costa anchor a strong defense.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The lighting system complements the simple and intimate interior concept of the studio, which features essential furniture in wood and is dominated by neutral shades.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Set against São Rafael Beach near Albufeira, this reimagined 149-room property impresses with Andrade’s signature style, one that marries whimsy with natural textures.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Mia Wasikowska plays Edith, an heiress who marries a seductive baron, Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), and moves into his enormous, decaying mansion — which is also inhabited by Thomas' enigmatic sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain).—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Luna’s harmonious trine to the sun in Scorpio reminds us that there’s so much more than meets the eye.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
This is the promise of the process developed by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which output a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which meets all current industry standards without requiring blending with fossil fuels.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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