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
Jack Lowenstein, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
That’s a minor 4% uptick over last year’s Commanders-Eagles NFC face-off.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
Sam Malinski #70 of the Colorado Avalanche before a face-off during a game against the Ottawa Senators on January 28, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
—Jack Lowenstein, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
That’s a minor 4% uptick over last year’s Commanders-Eagles NFC face-off.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Many Kentuckians will tune in for Super Bowl LX as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks face off at Levi's Stadium.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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While Finland and Sweden may not have enjoyed quite the same level of Olympic success in women’s hockey as the US and Canada, the rivalry between the two Nordic countries is nonetheless a fiery one.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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The epic race between Stolz and de Boo is the latest in their budding rivalry.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hurzeler is probably safe for the rest of the season before a summer review of how things stand for a club with ambitions to build on reaching Europe for the first time in 2022-23 by competing regularly in the top half of the table and for their first domestic silverware.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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There is also an alternate halftime show planned by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization cofounded by late activist Charlie Kirk, to compete with Bad Bunny's performance.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The star of the cache was a near-complete Iron Age battle trumpet, or carnyx — used to blare eerie sounds in battle and rally troops against the enemy.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Alain Hamel is credited with catching the giant flatfish, which was pulled through the ice after a two-and-a-half hour battle.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The department has made public millions of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act but has withheld millions more that officials contend would reveal the names of people who accused Epstein of abuse or cover the department's legal analysis of the case.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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But multiple former offensive linemen contended Campbell’s Super Bowl struggles were not due to his arms.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Belgium international has started to utilise his physical traits, increasingly aggressive in duels and more willing to dominate his opponent.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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One of the most exciting playoff games in recent memory — a quarterback duel between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes — ended abruptly in a 42-36 Chiefs win when Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on an eight-yard touchdown pass.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Parallel giant slalom requires speed and precision as riders race side-by-side downhill, slaloming around the gates on two separate quasi-identical courses.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Vonn had faced questions about her decision to race on a torn ACL, a devastating injury that has ended athletic seasons for scores of athletes, recently for the NBA’s Jimmy Butler, the NFL’s Micah Parsons and the WNBA’s Cameron Brink.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Khelif has appealed the new policy that will keep the athlete out of any competitions pending the results of genetic testing.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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During the second annual competition in October, the team from La Marmotte restaurant, also located downtown, won with a concoction of Nikka Vodka, Luxardo Espresso liqueur, Irish cream, and Count Chocula and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereals.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Volunteers spoke of the risks of verbal and physical confrontations with ICE agents, including the use of pepper spray and other irritants against observers and even arrests.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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The columnists argue that voters want a governor focused on state-level problem-solving rather than someone using the office as a platform for national positioning or raising their profile through constant partisan confrontation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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