as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a duel for the title of captain of the team
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Recent Examples of duels
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
3 July 2026
On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack.
—
Darren Sabedra,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Jude Bellingham is also making his presence known in the midfield, helping England to win the majority of the duels so far.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
However, Azula intercepts the group and duels Aang and Katara with Zuko, who nearly had a change of heart after opening up to Katara.
—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
25 June 2026
Yes, purists love pitching duels.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
Last season, the data from his Premier League performances places him in the 90th percentile or above (10 per cent or fewer performed better than him) for progressive carries, carries into the opposition’s final third, chances created from attacking set-pieces, aerial duels won and blocked shots.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Noun
As with many Latin American and African teams, Paraguay defend deep and are extremely physical in duels and aerial battles.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
3 July 2026
On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack.
—
Darren Sabedra,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Jude Bellingham is also making his presence known in the midfield, helping England to win the majority of the duels so far.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
However, Azula intercepts the group and duels Aang and Katara with Zuko, who nearly had a change of heart after opening up to Katara.
—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
25 June 2026
Yes, purists love pitching duels.
—
Ian Miller Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
Last season, the data from his Premier League performances places him in the 90th percentile or above (10 per cent or fewer performed better than him) for progressive carries, carries into the opposition’s final third, chances created from attacking set-pieces, aerial duels won and blocked shots.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
LaBonta completed 23 of 29 passes from the middle of the park, put in four tackles, made two interceptions and two ball recoveries, and won five of her eight duels with players, all while avoiding committing a single foul.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels
Noun
-
At a time when the news cycle seems to serve up nothing but conflict, crisis and woe, the World Cup offers shelter, a truly international event in which conflict is defined by long-term sports rivalries and questionable referee decisions.
-
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA's greatest rivalries into two of the game's greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.
Verb
-
If Wagner misses time again, if Suggs battles injuries again or if the roster isn’t completely healthy in April, expectations aren’t going anywhere.
-
Around 15 years later, Flay came to Nurdjaja and asked her to join Bobby's Triple Threat, in which a competitor battles three titans, including Flay's girlfriend Brooke Williamson and Michael Voltaggio, for a $25,000 prize.
Noun
-
Drama unfolds as tears are shed, confrontations occur and someone is asked to leave.
-
Ever delves into catastrophic confrontations over fences, noise, and general bad behavior.
Verb
-
Agamemnon is the commander of the Greek army that fights the Trojan War for the recovery of Menelaus’s wife, Helen.
-
What fights an itch depends on its cause and there's a need for better treatments.
Noun
-
Riders are screened before competitions and anyone considered too inexperienced is denied entry.
-
Olise’s five assists in France’s opening four games have been a ruthless continuation of his club form, having racked up 26 in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season.
Verb
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LilyAna’s version is also packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for deep penetrating hydration that combats any of the infamous drying side effects associated with the ingredient.
-
Saturday’s blaze comes as the city combats a massive increase in fatal fires this year.
Noun
-
And then there’s the guy that had a lot of success, and through injuries or struggles, needs to change some things and adjust some things.
-
The actress spent a few years away from Hollywood, working at a treatment center after her own struggles with substance abuse.
Verb
-
Alpha-gal was more of a private enterprise, another rumor contends.
-
Uber contends this arrangement has created an incentive for doctors and attorneys to collude to dramatically inflate medical bills.
Cite this Entry
“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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