matchups

noun

plural of matchup
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a boxing matchup that promises to be a sportswriter's dream

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 matchups Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, himself a two-time All-Pro, presented Jefferson plenty of challenges in their one-on-one matchups. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 The trio gives Fort Worth-area football fans what should be a trio of contenders and a ton of high-stakes playoff matchups within a reasonable distance. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 Thankfully, Samuel Basallo and Nathaniel Lowe provide bettors with eye-catching odds to hit home runs in favorable matchups and homer-friendly ballparks tonight. — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The Sparks are 0-2 against Connecticut this season, losing both road matchups. — John W. Davis, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026 Carr is efficient with his operation and understands how to find vulnerable matchups. — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Between the July and August polling, more states hosted primaries and solidified their candidates for November's general election matchups. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Bugs, with his carrot-chomping patter, naturally brought out the character’s talkative side in their occasional matchups. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 The schedules for opening night and Christmas already were unveiled this week, so those two games were among the most intriguing matchups not yet known. — Brian Mahoney, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matchups
  1. tournaments
  2. games
  3. events
  4. competitions
  5. matches
Noun
  • Finding community Amid the rise of pickleball tournaments and run clubs, fitness activities are increasingly becoming a venue for social connection.
    — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • His son is an avid athlete and needs to be taken to tournaments, sometimes 100 miles away.
    — David Ingram, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • Following Monday’s series-opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park, the Giants have 31 games left over the final 34 days.
    — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • What happened Sunday evening is Browns coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry picked Watson to be their starter over Shedeur Sanders, to culminate a competition that spanned the entire offseason and into the first two preseason games.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • The Cubs’ selection to a second Little League Classic bookends a stretch of being chosen by MLB for unforgettable marquee events.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The anniversary program will run throughout the season, with customer events, competitions, limited-edition products, dedicated window installations, new content, special offers and more surprises to come.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • Now, parents are scrambling to find alternatives while wondering whether their children will be able to train in time for upcoming competitions.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Dutch health ministry’s scheme for international top-sport events funds one-off competitions rather than recurring ones annually, and caps awards at €3 million.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Nashville improves to 7-1-1 in its last nine matches and beat the Red Bulls on the road for the first time after entering with a 0-2-2 record through their first four trips.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Houston is 6-0-2 in its last eight matches and remains the hottest team in the league with a 10-2-2 run over its previous 14.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of matches

Browse Nearby Words

matchup
matchups
mate
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Cite this Entry

“Matchups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matchups. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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