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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Recent Examples of face-off
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: Cryptocurrency is the last topic the agency cited in today's release about the end of his tenure, but that face-off will be what his tenure will be remembered for.
—Brady Dale, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
Ray Long, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Drake and Kendrick Lamar will face off, yet again, in the Rap categories— specifically Top Rap Artist and Top Male Rap Artist.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off 
Noun
By the calculus of marquee appeal, this final face-off makes sense: What could be more rousing, in theory, than Mescal versus Denzel — than pitting a rising star against one of Hollywood’s most bankable veterans?
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: Cryptocurrency is the last topic the agency cited in today's release about the end of his tenure, but that face-off will be what his tenure will be remembered for.
—Brady Dale, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning at Dodger Stadium, with the implications for the season on the line.
—Ray Long, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Drake and Kendrick Lamar will face off, yet again, in the Rap categories— specifically Top Rap Artist and Top Male Rap Artist.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for face-off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off
Noun
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is inactive for Sunday's rivalry matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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Just look at what even happened in college football, some of these rivalry games and things of that nature over the weekend.Ben Morse, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Looking ahead to 2025, Muniz will compete full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 33 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
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This put pressure on the industry to develop technological solutions as companies competed to develop better products.Susan Solomon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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So the Hegseth battle will continue — at a potential further political cost.Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
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When his father is murdered that rejection takes on new importance in turning him into the villain of this piece and key motivation for all the battles that ensue.Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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It is based in part, on grounds that charges in the indictment are unconstitutional since the charges are based on the exit tax regime which Ver contends is itself unconstitutional.Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D., Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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These kinds of legal tools can be empowering for voters of color in all states, voting rights advocates contend.Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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On Wednesday night, December 4 in Indianapolis, Josef Newgarden’s face will be unveiled on the Borg-Warner Trophy for the second straight year after becoming a back-to-back winner of the Indy 500 on May 26 in a dramatic duel with Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren.Bruce Martin, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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Instead, General Livius duels Commodus with javelins for the fate of Rome in a makeshift arena made of centurion shields.James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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He was called up after Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Philadelphia and raced to Columbus the next morning for practice.Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
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But Manchin raced across town from a previous engagement to deliver the fatal blow, 50-49.Axios, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Being certified as an adjudicator by the National Dance Council America means your expertise in the art form is so wide-ranging and highly regarded that you're granted the ability to judge other professionals in national competitions.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Dramatic competition as well as the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award: Ensemble.Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The camera was quickly turned off, but Mason’s indelible memory of that confrontation lives on, not only in his mind but also in the new movie September 5, in limited theaters Dec. 13.Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
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For those families who consider gift giving a nonnegotiable aspect of the holidays, Ward encourages people to buy something small to avoid confrontations.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near face-off
Cite this Entry
“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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