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 Other key matchups include Amanda Lemos facing late replacement Alexia Thainara, and Miles Johns seeking a crucial win. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Teams are typically made up of three to seven players per side, with 5-on-5 matchups considered the standard. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Jones has won the last four matchups between the two teams, the last one being a 32-26 victory in a 2020 non-district game. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 Then, there's a large collection of local and national games on CBS and Fox, plus a few international matchups on the NFL Network. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026 Two matchups are still to be determined and will likely feature close playoff races around Dallas-Fort Worth. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026 The contests will solidify November matchups, particularly in Virginia, where Democrats failed to redraw the state’s congressional map earlier this year. — Mike Catalini, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 That said, those early practice battles, even before the team transitions into wearing full pads, have the potential to conjure up some matchups that are worth the price of admission. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 SkyPicks launches with Major League Baseball games, and fans will be able to predict NFL matchups later this year. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matchups
  1. tournaments
  2. games
  3. events
  4. competitions
  5. matches
Noun
  • The departure symbolizes opportunity, even more so now that the women’s and men’s tournaments are sold separately.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • European leaders have even floated a boycott of FIFA events, while execs behind closed doors are plotting rival tournaments that could leave Infantino on the outside looking in before the next election cycle.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • Rhyne Howard became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 100 made three-pointers in a season, doing it in just 31 games.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Their closest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have been hovering around 8 games behind the Braves.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • The House of the Dragon Scorecard is an accounting of the events of this week’s season-three finale, in which points are awarded to characters on a scale of 0 to 10.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Seemingly disconnected except by my mother’s witness, these two events illustrate how tragedies can galvanize change.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • No away team had won in the previous 14 meetings between the clubs across all competitions.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Many compete in annual competitions, including the Women's Baseball World Cup, and have had stints in regional and seasonal men's leagues.
    — Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Once the contest was underway, Perrin began livestreaming on Instagram while simultaneously refereeing the matches, making her the organizer, referee and camera operator all at once.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The matches and lighter would still need to be considered alongside witness statements, physical evidence, electronic records and forensic findings.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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