grudge match
noun
: a contest or fight between players, teams, etc., who dislike each other
The race had turned into a grudge match between the two teams.
Examples of grudge match in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lerner Dreamer and Coogan’s Bluff themselves had a bit of a grudge match.
—
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 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
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
And so the stage would appear to be set for a fun — and emotionally fraught — grudge match of a sequel about two several-thousand-year-olds who fight over the best way to spend the rest of their suddenly finite time together.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
The ceasefire ended the bloodiest bout of violence in the decades-long grudge match between Iran and Israel, but the hours after its immediate announcement saw some of the fiercest fighting in the 12-day war.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
The pair must pause their grudge match and reluctantly join forces to defeat a Predator.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 June 2025
But the next month or so may turn out to be grudge match or perhaps a race between the XFG and NB.1.8.1 variants.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Cargill squared off against Naomi in a grudge match weeks in the making.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025
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D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 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
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
And so the stage would appear to be set for a fun — and emotionally fraught — grudge match of a sequel about two several-thousand-year-olds who fight over the best way to spend the rest of their suddenly finite time together.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
The ceasefire ended the bloodiest bout of violence in the decades-long grudge match between Iran and Israel, but the hours after its immediate announcement saw some of the fiercest fighting in the 12-day war.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
The pair must pause their grudge match and reluctantly join forces to defeat a Predator.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 6 June 2025
But the next month or so may turn out to be grudge match or perhaps a race between the XFG and NB.1.8.1 variants.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Cargill squared off against Naomi in a grudge match weeks in the making.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grudge match.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grudge%20match. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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