square (off)

verb

Definition of square (off)next
as in to contend (with)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for square (off)
  1. combat
  2. oppose
  3. resist
  4. fight
  5. stand
  6. withstand
  7. battle
Verb
  • Many contain Bifidobacterium longum, known for effectively combating gastrointestinal symptoms.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Officials have recently begun to mull raising rates to combat inflation, but that calculus could change if economic figures show the labor market might be the greater problem.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of combat
Verb
  • Friday provided a brief but clear reminder of what kind of headache that could be for opposing defensive coordinators.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But that also will be two months after the Bucks play in Miami, when Giannis will be in opposing colors for the first time in his career.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Refusing to step out when instructed can lead to charges like interfering with public duties or resisting detention, even if the underlying stop was for a minor violation.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Roq Innovation Raquel Graham dreamed up NEKZ, a scarf alternative, when her children resisted wearing them during Chicago’s frigid winters.
    — Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • The 63-year-old was born in the central city of Esfahan and volunteered to fight in the Iraq-Iran war as a teenager, along with tens of thousands of young Iranians.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Pathogens are microorganisms known to cause numerous diseases in their host, meaning Bifidobacterium animalis may help fight certain diseases.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fight
Verb
  • Villa’s recent warm-up defeat to Bayern Munich, though a 2-1 loss, will have offered a useful gauge of what facing elite opposition demands and should stand them in good stead for the level of intensity this game in Salzburg will require.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Amid tight security, Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent but is particularly ill-equipped to withstand heat, due to older infrastructure and a lack of air conditioning.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Whether the church’s assertions withstand analytic scrutiny is a different question.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of withstand
Verb
  • Polanco, who has battled an Achilles tendon issue all season, hasn’t played first base since the season’s opening series.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The show’s cast and crew stopped by San Diego Comic-Con in July to release the first few minutes of Season 3, which opened with Thalia Grace battling a monster.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of battle
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.

Browse Nearby Words

squarely
square (off)
square one
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Cite this Entry

“Square (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/square%20%28off%29. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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