How to Use grudge match in a Sentence

grudge match

noun
  • Lerner Dreamer and Coogan’s Bluff themselves had a bit of a grudge match.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Ohio State-Michigan is the nation’s most prominent grudge match, but that feeling is not unique.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
  • Houston won the grudge match, 115-101, snapping Denver’s six-game winning streak.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
  • That broke a seven-game winning streak, but New York will now quickly shift its attention to a grudge match against the Houston Astros.
    — Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
  • With notions of a settlement once floated, and debtor loan plans of around $10 million in the mix to make sure lawyers are paid, the lawsuits seemed to have turned into a very un-Christian grudge match.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Rhodes brought up Fatu’s criminal past, but both were able to keep their hands to themselves headed into their grudge match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Cody Rhodes takes on Jacob Fatu in a grudge match after Fatu cost Cody the WWE Championship.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • But some legal experts, academics who aren’t part of either campaign, say there’s a real danger to California’s civil justice system lurking beneath the high-dollar grudge match.
    — Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
  • In a heated grudge match, the team of Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky will face The Kabuki Warriors, Asuka and Kairi Sane.
    — Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
  • He is set to face Logan Paul at Clash in Paris on August 31, followed by a blockbuster grudge match against the returning Brock Lesnar in September.
    — Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Fortunately for the Eagles, their defense fared just fine without him, but the Eagles likely don't want to tempt fate again heading into a grudge match against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and company.
    — Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The National Women's Soccer League final is set to be a grudge match between NY/NJ Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, a fierce regional rivalry known for its high-energy play on the field.
    — Doha Madani, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
  • Many view the lawsuit as a grudge match between Musk—who left OpenAI after serving as an early major donor and advisor—and Altman—who currently runs OpenAI, despite insiders’ allegedly growing distrust in his commitment to the dominant AI firm’s mission.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Other highlights next weekend include Everton’s first competitive game at their new home, against Brighton, a grudge match (see above) between Palace and Forest at Selhurst Park and, on Monday night, Liverpool’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United and the wrath of a home crowd.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen), Chet Holmgren (back), Jalen Williams (hamstring), Lu Dort (knee), Alex Carruso (groin), Isaiah Hartenstein (eye) and Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) have all been ruled out of Wednesday's grudge match at the Frost Bank Center.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grudge match.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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