as in competing
to engage in a contest
eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of facing off
Democrats Wendy Meister and Jaclyn Rodriguez are facing off in the upcoming primary for Lake County Board District 3, a seat that will be left open by outgoing Republican board veteran Ann Maine, with each carrying county leadership endorsements but from different branches.
—
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
This season, the Chiefs won’t be in the game for the first time in three years as NBC will have the Seattle Seahawks facing off Sunday against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, not the match-up experts predicted for this year.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s gauntlet of a postseason doesn’t get any easier in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots facing off against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
As Operation Metro Surge got into full swing earlier this month, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents flooded into Minnesota, carrying out sweeping detentions and facing off with protesters in tense confrontations.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
For the first time, the defense attorney becomes the defendant, forced to fight for his own freedom while facing off against ruthless prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the confrontation shows Fanone and Raiklin facing off during a short break in Smith’s testimony as other former police officers in attendance try to pull Fanone back.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
The Food Network series returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1, with 32 chefs facing off in the kitchen.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Pre–lip sync, the two comedy queens of the season, Myki and Jane, double-teaming a description of the queens facing off.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
This season, the Chiefs won’t be in the game for the first time in three years as NBC will have the Seattle Seahawks facing off Sunday against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, not the match-up experts predicted for this year.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s gauntlet of a postseason doesn’t get any easier in Super Bowl LX with the Patriots facing off against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
As Operation Metro Surge got into full swing earlier this month, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents flooded into Minnesota, carrying out sweeping detentions and facing off with protesters in tense confrontations.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
For the first time, the defense attorney becomes the defendant, forced to fight for his own freedom while facing off against ruthless prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Video of the confrontation shows Fanone and Raiklin facing off during a short break in Smith’s testimony as other former police officers in attendance try to pull Fanone back.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
The Food Network series returns for its seventh season on Sunday, March 1, with 32 chefs facing off in the kitchen.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Pre–lip sync, the two comedy queens of the season, Myki and Jane, double-teaming a description of the queens facing off.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
competing
Verb
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What’s interesting about this story … is that Eileen Gu is an American skier competing for China.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Critics argued that the hotel industry was already faced with the minimum wage changes and low demand, and increasing taxes by any amount could send tourists to competing hotels in nearby cities.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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