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
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
Since opening, fans from around the world have gathered to watch matches, enjoy live entertainment, experience cultural programming, and celebrate soccer in downtown Atlanta.
—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Qualifying matches are exclusive to ESPN+.
—
Jason Cohen,
PC Magazine,
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
Chawinga has scored 47 goals with 12 assists in 61 matches across all competitions.
—
Pj Green,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Klose played 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.
—
ABC News,
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
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
Since opening, fans from around the world have gathered to watch matches, enjoy live entertainment, experience cultural programming, and celebrate soccer in downtown Atlanta.
—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Qualifying matches are exclusive to ESPN+.
—
Jason Cohen,
PC Magazine,
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
Chawinga has scored 47 goals with 12 assists in 61 matches across all competitions.
—
Pj Green,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Klose played 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.
—
ABC News,
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
-
Ronaldo, 41, scored twice in the win, becoming the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments.
-
No country has ever hosted a World Cup in back-to-back tournaments.
Noun
-
Uber argued that the attorneys were trying to line their pockets by forcing car-accident victims into predatory relationships with medical providers, while the attorneys accused the rideshare giant of trying to escape accountability by rewriting civil liability laws.
-
And many of the gay bar owners have good relationships with each other.
Noun
-
In a way, the fact that Huston was made up of two halves — one part iconoclastic maverick, one part old school craftsman — gave him an edge his fellow septuagenarians lacked.
-
So, to combat the effect of the heat and protect the teams, world soccer governing body FIFA introduced hydration breaks in both halves of every match played at the tournament.
Noun
-
Attrition rates among offshore employees can run significantly higher than their onshore equivalents, not because the talent is weaker, but because the employment experience often is.
-
Radiators and solar arrays can consume 65 to 70 percent of total satellite mass, and space-grade photovoltaics run orders of magnitude more expensive than terrestrial equivalents.
Noun
-
Later pictures showed the structure being towed within the lagoon.
-
Space-age music blared night-club-loud as pictures of birds, plants, and flowers cascaded down the walls.
Noun
-
First, the worst conference changes hadn’t struck yet, and some of the rivalries torn apart by previous realignments were even getting back together.
-
As Miranda works to protect the magazine's influence, old alliances and rivalries are tested, putting Andy in the middle of another complicated chapter in her career.
Verb
-
Senesi, whose instinct is to win the ball high, complements his game more naturally, as does Kevin Danso, who ended the season excellently and should not be overlooked.
-
The factory complements Joby’s existing propeller manufacturing facility at the Dayton International Airport, which has been open since October 2025.
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 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
