as in against
in opposition or contrast to
It's your word versus his. She explained the use of a semicolon versus a colon.
Related Words
Relevance
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 versus
In gen-ed schools that reserve space for gifted programs, the demographic divide between the children filing into one classroom versus another can be stark.
—
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Wanting versus liking The first interesting wrinkle that needs to be considered is the fact that dopamine does not directly cause the sensation of pleasure.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Let this sink in for a moment – zero job growth versus an average of almost 2 million for the 10 years prior to 2025.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
However, the decision to buy now versus waiting is a highly personal one.
—Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for versus
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Wanting versus liking The first interesting wrinkle that needs to be considered is the fact that dopamine does not directly cause the sensation of pleasure.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Let this sink in for a moment – zero job growth versus an average of almost 2 million for the 10 years prior to 2025.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
However, the decision to buy now versus waiting is a highly personal one.
—Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for versus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for versus
Preposition
-
Leading California Democrats railed against the cuts.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Paris — Gisèle Pelicot emerged as a global feminist hero in 2024 by transforming her horrific, personal story into a public battle against rape culture.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
Preposition
-
The Chatham County Police Department is investigating the crash and has charged Vasquez Lopez with reckless driving, driving without a valid license, failure to obey a traffic control device, and first-degree homicide by vehicle, the agency shared online.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Others, however, took issue with Kimmel’s comments immediately following Kirk’s assassination, and welcomed his show going off the air.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Versus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/versus. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
