face-to-face

adverb

ˈfās-tə-ˈfās How to pronounce face-to-face (audio)
Definition of face-to-facenext
1
as in personally
in person and usually privately I won't believe that accusation until I meet with him face-to-face and ask him myself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one-on-one
in direct confrontation or competition came face-to-face with her lifelong fear of flying even before the plane left the runway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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-to-face When the two meet again face-to-face, Yong-ho gives Jun-hyeon a proper apology. — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 July 2026 For her swan song, Oteri and Walters interviewed one another in an epic face-to-face meeting on The View. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 Two veterans go face-to-face in Portugal’s match against Croatia in Toronto. — David Hickey, NBC news, 2 July 2026 The face-to-face meeting came as the King underwent treatment for cancer, and triggered speculation that the royal family’s long-running rift might be coming to an end. — Max Foster, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 The energy and insights generated through face-to-face exchange are truly impossible to replicate in virtual environments. — C200, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 The goal is to reduce digital interruptions, improve students’ engagement with classroom lessons, increase face-to-face interactions and reduce conflicts that play out on social media during school hours. — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Ready California has reached more than 16 million Californians through face-to-face outreach, according to the governor’s office. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Robinson is accused of sending text messages to his lover, Lance Twiggs, about wanting to retrieve the rifle, and law enforcement sources have said he is believed to have come face-to-face with an officer manning the perimeter nearby. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-to-face
  1. personally
  2. head-to-head
  3. head-on
Adverb
  • Beccari has personally called on Massimo Osanna, the head of national museums at Italy’s culture ministry, to ensure the location is ready on time.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
  • The Democrats alleged Krach, the Freedom 250 CEO, traveled in January to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to personally solicit foreign government officials and business leaders for money to help fund America’s birthday celebrations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of personally
Adverb
  • The head-to-head record heavily favors Portugal, who have 7 wins in 11 meetings.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 2 July 2026
  • The most tantalizing head-to-head in this half of the draw is still the potential quarterfinal between Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of head-to-head
Adverb
  • Volvo shared some new crash footage with Popular Science, showing how their design choices protect drivers even during head-on moose collisions.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026
  • On a new episode of Call Her Daddy, Wilde digs in, addressing many of those controversies head-on while eliding others.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Definition of head-on

Browse Nearby Words

facetiousness
face-to-face
facets
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Cite this Entry

“Face-to-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-to-face. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on face-to-face

Nglish: Translation of face-to-face for Spanish Speakers

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