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
Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 May 2025
In the second face-off for Tom Cruise with Lilo & Stitch (his Minority Report inched out the blue alien at the June 21-23, 2002 weekend box office, $35.6M to $35.2M).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Michael Cox, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The Women's College World Series begins on Thursday, with Oregon and UCLA facing off in the fourth game of the day.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Noun
And North also has a rejoinder for this year’s face-off.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 May 2025
In the second face-off for Tom Cruise with Lilo & Stitch (his Minority Report inched out the blue alien at the June 21-23, 2002 weekend box office, $35.6M to $35.2M).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Verb
After 188 games, the 2024-25 Champions League comes to a conclusion on Saturday night in Munich as Paris Saint-Germain face off against Inter.
Ahead of the game at the Allianz Arena, our writers James Horncastle and Michael Cox are on hand to answer your questions.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The Women's College World Series begins on Thursday, with Oregon and UCLA facing off in the fourth game of the day.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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How can the club improve its image around the world, where international fans are less concerned with local rivalries?—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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This is also a historic rivalry, so that's why so many people are tuning in.—
Ryan Stano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Those chasing the next AI tool without solving their data issues will struggle to compete.—
Hariharan Kolam,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The veteran-laden Seattle squad competes nightly and has one of the strongest defenses in the league, buoyed by Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
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Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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At worst, Nomura is probably contending for a stint on the practice squad.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2025
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However, the positive sentiment fizzled as the day went on, Cramer contended, because uncertainty over the legal challenges to the tariffs increased.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The game had the look of a pitchers’ duel going into the ninth inning with first-place Philadelphia leading 1-0 thanks to a home run from Trea Turner leading off the game.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
24 May 2025
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May departed with the Dodgers trailing 1-0 and was initially in line to be the hard-luck loser of a pitchers’ duel with Burnes, but Hernandez changed that with one swing.—
Kyle Glaser,
Oc Register,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Unsurprisingly, the property is well-suited for racing lovers and features its own underground garages and fuel storage.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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This time, the Stig (aka Ben Collins) raced a Praga Bohema, a car that produces less than half the power produced by modern-day hypercars.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2025
Noun
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For Case, the Welsh race in mid-May was her first big competition since the summer of 2022: the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run in Colorado.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
30 May 2025
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McClain is Hartford’s main competition for the second safety spot.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The tense confrontation was the latest flashpoint between the Trump administration and Chicago over immigration policies — a potentially ominous sign for what’s ahead for the nation’s third-largest city, which has long been in the president’s crosshairs.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
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In the ensuing violent confrontation, her son is killed.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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