1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
a chess match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in marriages
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people
from all appearances those two have got a good match there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in halves
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities
I can't find the match to this sock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in equivalents
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
for a wife he wants a woman who will be his match in every aspect of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pictures
something or someone that strongly resembles another
Erin is so nearly my exact match you'd think she must be my twin and not just my cousin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the discussion soon degenerated into a pointless shouting match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complements
to be the exact counterpart of
does this handbag's shade of blue match my navy blue pants? the rare blood type that exactly matched that of the transplant recipient
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in meets
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value)
no one has ever been able to match that novel for its portrayal of the horrors of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of matches
James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
In the doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows, Venus and Leylah Fernandez won two matches before losing in quarterfinals.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Their presence supported fair play across hundreds of matches.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
The good news is that Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse are through to the semifinals regardless after winning six of their nine round robin matches.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Brawley still had a couple more to go in the finals and medal matches.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Inside, organizers enacted extreme heat protocols, forcing closure of the retractable roofs over the main arenas and postponement of matches on the uncovered outer courts.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Guanajuato borders Jalisco, where several World Cup soccer matches will be played later this year.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Hellstar’s name appears beneath the lateral collar in highlighter green, which matches the laces and branding.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
The former teammate who sent in the video believed the video of Serafini running to retrieve a ground ball matches the stride of the masked intruder seen outside his in-law’s home on the day they were shot.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
If a friend proposes an in-person meet-up or online project, choose the setting that matches your pace, then share an idea of your own.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Tech companies are hurdling toward a goal of artificial general intelligence, or AGI—technology that matches or exceeds human cognitive abilities.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Struijk has started 22 of Leeds’ 25 Premier League matches this season.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
If this second game matches the build-up of the first meeting, this should be a classic.
—Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Make sure to choose the best dimmer switch that matches your needs, type of room, and type of light bulbs.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, Venus Williams, the 45-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, appears determined to keep trying to win tennis matches at an age when most players have long retired.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
In the doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows, Venus and Leylah Fernandez won two matches before losing in quarterfinals.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Their presence supported fair play across hundreds of matches.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
The good news is that Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse are through to the semifinals regardless after winning six of their nine round robin matches.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Brawley still had a couple more to go in the finals and medal matches.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Inside, organizers enacted extreme heat protocols, forcing closure of the retractable roofs over the main arenas and postponement of matches on the uncovered outer courts.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Guanajuato borders Jalisco, where several World Cup soccer matches will be played later this year.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
These wooden beds are painted a shade of teal that echoes the doors on the outbuilding and matches the surrounding fence and gates to tie the entire space together.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Hellstar’s name appears beneath the lateral collar in highlighter green, which matches the laces and branding.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
The former teammate who sent in the video believed the video of Serafini running to retrieve a ground ball matches the stride of the masked intruder seen outside his in-law’s home on the day they were shot.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
If a friend proposes an in-person meet-up or online project, choose the setting that matches your pace, then share an idea of your own.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Tech companies are hurdling toward a goal of artificial general intelligence, or AGI—technology that matches or exceeds human cognitive abilities.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Struijk has started 22 of Leeds’ 25 Premier League matches this season.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
If this second game matches the build-up of the first meeting, this should be a classic.
—Richard Obert, AZCentral.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Make sure to choose the best dimmer switch that matches your needs, type of room, and type of light bulbs.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
-
High school culinary classes and a first job at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen propelled her into a gig at Muirfield Village Golf Club, working tournaments.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That doesn’t include tournaments, and the costs associated with travel.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cut two packages of Hawaiian rolls horizontally without separating the individual rolls and place the bottom halves on baking sheets.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This year's medals resemble two halves coming together.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As of the end of the latest quarter, the four leaders had a total of over $420 billion in cash and equivalents.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Colorado and Oregon are also reporting their lowest snow water equivalents to date, with Montana approaching its lowest snow water equivalent to date.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Deuxmoi showed pictures of McRae and Hughes dining at Anton’s in the West Village the month prior.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In these 2-foot-square pictures, long-haired nude female figures in close Edenic companionship with wild beasts poke their heads out from behind lush tropical foliage, and stare, unsettlingly, straight outward.—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As a 10-time world champion who’s entering her fifth, and final, Winter Olympics, American hockey star Hilary Knight, 35, has played a key role in energizing one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The sport was built on rivalries.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His finishing ability is strong, which complements a reliable midrange game.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This approach treats migrants as human beings, dismantles trafficking incentives, lowers taxpayer costs, and complements federal ICE enforcement within Texas’s constitutional authority.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
A couple marries during the Bad Bunny performance onstage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Finding one that marries style and functionality can quickly take the space from dingy to spa-like.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Accessibility The hotel meets ADA standards with appropriate accessibility features, ramps, and elevators throughout the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But then Davis meets up with his boss, Money, played by Nick Nolte with an old man’s jagged rasp as dramatic as his wry middle-aged intensity used to be.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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