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
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Recent Examples of matches
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan in place for the soccer matches, despite continued outbreaks of violence in the country.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Rivera took the competition seriously — he was often seen on the sidelines breathing deeply with his head in his hands to shake off his nerves between matches.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source, including machinery, cigarettes, and matches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
In the past six matches, in games which are so vital, Arsenal has lost four times.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
That closely matches the findings of a survey conducted earlier this year by the Jewish Federations of North America.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Data that closely matches the target deployment environment consistently produces better performance.
—Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
That largely matches recommendations last week by Mercedes' George Russell, who's started 2026 as a title contender.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
The hint of lemonade flavor matches the fruity flavors of strawberry jam in the frosting.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
The dining rooms lean hard into an ’80s-meets-diner aesthetic with neon accents, colorful murals, throwback playlists and a playful irreverence that matches its menu.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
The same poll found that just 38% of respondents approve of how Trump is handling the economy, which matches the all-time low for both of his terms in the White House reached in March and in October 2025.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Syna World’s logo is debossed onto the lateral heel in gold, which matches the tongue branding, lace dubrae and metal lace tips.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
Iran’s religious establishment had barred women from attending football matches in stadiums for the majority of the past 40 years.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan in place for the soccer matches, despite continued outbreaks of violence in the country.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Rivera took the competition seriously — he was often seen on the sidelines breathing deeply with his head in his hands to shake off his nerves between matches.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source, including machinery, cigarettes, and matches.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
In the past six matches, in games which are so vital, Arsenal has lost four times.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Mead has started 10 of Arsenal’s 17 WSL matches this season, and with her contract expiring in June — the same month as England’s final two qualifiers — her next move feels crucial.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
That closely matches the findings of a survey conducted earlier this year by the Jewish Federations of North America.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Data that closely matches the target deployment environment consistently produces better performance.
—Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
That largely matches recommendations last week by Mercedes' George Russell, who's started 2026 as a title contender.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
The hint of lemonade flavor matches the fruity flavors of strawberry jam in the frosting.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
The dining rooms lean hard into an ’80s-meets-diner aesthetic with neon accents, colorful murals, throwback playlists and a playful irreverence that matches its menu.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
The same poll found that just 38% of respondents approve of how Trump is handling the economy, which matches the all-time low for both of his terms in the White House reached in March and in October 2025.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
Syna World’s logo is debossed onto the lateral heel in gold, which matches the tongue branding, lace dubrae and metal lace tips.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
-
Basketball, softball and volleyball players are accustomed to pool play and double-elimination tournaments with multiple games in a day.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
-
With 80-120 active members and monthly tournaments drawing up to 80 players, the club thrives on human interaction.—
Sara Hansen,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My own life does not feel like one continuous thing but, rather, two distinct halves that belong to two very different people.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
After not allowing a single goal in the entire playoffs, the Mustangs forfeited a pair of goals in a three-minute span of the first and second halves.—
Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, the marks are essentially phonetic equivalents and, thus, sound similar.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
As of December, Gossamer has $137 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, enough to fund the company into the first quarter of 2027.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wheatley has always had a decent handle on atmosphere, and Normal definitely possesses more of a sense of location than other pictures of its ilk.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In May 2025, CACC posted pictures to its social media pages showing lines of people turning in stray animals or surrendering their pets to city shelters.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alexander Wynaendts, supervisory board chairman at Deutsche Bank, said Wednesday that Europe needs to reduce regulations and boost its output to compete with China and the US despite challenges posed by the Middle East war and intra-regional rivalries.—
Steve Gelsi,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The postseason format the NHL brought back with the divisional realignment for the 2013-14 season to intensify the first round and double down on regional rivalries has occasionally proved controversial.—
Dave Campbell,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This option has a clean, versatile design that complements many styles, and the durable polypropylene construction resists fading, stains, and daily wear and tear.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Not incidentally, Melton’s skill set complements Curry’s.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, marries Prince Charles in London.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This look marries fashion and function, keeping you cool on hot mornings and balmy evenings.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the Moon meets Jupiter in your sign, your presence carries weight and people respond to your tone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Swimwear is truly where function meets style, which is why designers love to play with new silhouettes and aesthetics.—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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