as in rivalry
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
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Recent Examples of face-off
Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Gaffney scored his team-leading 18th game of the season following a face-off win by Wahlin in the offensive zone midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie in the Tommies’ 2-1 win over Augustana.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Muffet McGraw’s Notre Dame became UConn’s new foil in the 2010s, and the programs faced off seven times in the Final Four or national title game from 2011-19.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Sean Durzi set up the goal with a cross-ice pass, and Guenther scored on a slap shot from down on one knee, beating Dostal over the blocker from the left face-off dot.
—Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Gaffney scored his team-leading 18th game of the season following a face-off win by Wahlin in the offensive zone midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie in the Tommies’ 2-1 win over Augustana.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
The teams maintain a friendly rivalry, facing off in exhibition games as well as home-and-away series during the regular season.
—Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Muffet McGraw’s Notre Dame became UConn’s new foil in the 2010s, and the programs faced off seven times in the Final Four or national title game from 2011-19.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma’s coaching rivalry has had something for everyone on and off the court.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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But there were also rivalries — and who got to control a bigger share of the work was hotly contested.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This was, according to the charter, arguably the moment when OpenAI might stop competing with other companies and start working with them.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Just go out there tomorrow and try to compete.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Three months into faith leaders’ legal battle, they were allowed back inside the facility in February for Ash Wednesday after a court order granted limited access.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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In the midst of a restitution battle, records show that Kilpatrick is at risk of losing a home in Novi over more than $50,000 in unpaid property taxes.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Others contend that legitimizing him erodes Democratic credibility on antisemitism and other issues, handing Republicans ammunition heading into the midterms.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the president contends there is no excuse for the lack of participation now that Iran's navy has been sunk and its air defenses severely weakened.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Rangers loss extends their losing streak to four games after a pitching duel between Jack Leiter and Chase Burns.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
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The duel on the mound was so-so.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The paying public went from raucous to delirious on the next possession, when Curry raced downcourt and splashed a triple off the dribble.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Leonard scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Clippers raced out to a double-digit lead and coasted against a Kings team that is playing out the string of a lost season.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For the seventh year in a row, Walmart captured more money from Charlotte-area shoppers than any other grocery store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
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The timing matters as robotics competition heats up This legislation comes at a moment when China is rapidly advancing in robotics.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Police have not released a motive for the attack or additional details about what sparked the confrontation at the gym.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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The confrontation, which led to multiple 911 calls reporting a fight involving a firearm, resulted in the arrest of Ahmad Zeeshan.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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