FACE-OFFS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

face-offs

noun

plural of face-off

as in rivalries

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the annual fall face-off between these traditional rivals is a big event for both football-mad colleges

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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 face-offs As for battery life, the MacBook Air wins most of the face-offs here, but loses to some key rivals, namely the HP Googlebook 14, by a fair margin. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 For national tournaments, the corollary is how poorer countries always have to match up against richer ones for regional face-offs and qualifiers that culminate in the quadrennial dream that is the World Cup. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 The game followed a championship series filled with down-to-the-wire face-offs won by edge-of-your-seat buzzer beaters. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 June 2026 The plan is for the star forward to take face-offs again. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 The film’s centerpieces are the face-offs between Plemons’ Teddy and Stone’s CEO. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026 Turcotte has been an efficient point producer relative to his ice time, boasts strong two-way metrics, and has won nearly 56 percent of his face-offs this year. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 The film keeps pace through toe-curlingly tense table tennis face-offs, high-stakes hustles, and a jaw-dropping scene involving a bathtub that honestly puts Saltburn to shame. — Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025 Several of these races have attracted attention beyond their city limits, for interesting face-offs or for their potential to signal where some states and districts could be leaning as next year's midterm elections draw closer. — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-offs

Noun

To reestablish and preserve traditional rivalries and eliminate cross-country travel demands, restore conference alignments to their original geographical moorings.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
But the Tigers have the clear advantage on paper, even as rivalries can bring out unorthodox circumstances.

— PJ Green October 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

Known for risque stand-up comedy routines and battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Use it for dry skin, dry lips, dry cuticles, scars from cabaret battles.

— Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

In defence, his lack of physicality is becoming more glaring in a Premier League that is leaning more heavily than ever into duels, second balls and set pieces.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

According to the report, counties have responded with additional security and training on defusing confrontations, along with coordination with local law enforcement.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Watson told The Charlotte Observer the incident was the latest in a series of confrontations that raised concerns about the role of law enforcement at school board meetings.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Victory extended Villa’s outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Factor in other domestic competitions, and Belenenses has seven trophies in total, which is tied for the fifth-most in the nation.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Adebayo inched closer to becoming the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder, but his early-season struggles continue.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
In the lead-up to Sunday night’s game, the Chiefs maintained their confidence in Butker, with special teams coordinator Dave Toub suggesting the kicker would work through his struggles.

— Pete Sweeney October 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

Iowa, which voted three times for Trump in presidential years, has competitive contests for governor, Senate and in three of its four House districts.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Every team’s games will stream locally, with many franchises also airing contests on freely available over-the-air broadcast stations.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of contests

Noun

His critics see a president who failed to tame inflation and keep America out of overseas conflicts, and whose agenda has fueled higher prices as the war with Iran appears to be at a stalemate.

— JOSH BOAK, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Inter-regional conflicts Disagreements over the future of water in Texas are already playing out.

— Lexi Salazar, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflicts

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face off

face-offs

faces

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“Face-offs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-offs. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of face-offs

noun

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