as in competing
to engage in a contest
eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival
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Recent Examples of facing off
On Friday, June 19, USA and Australia are facing off in Seattle, Washington to determine who will lead Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
—
Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026
The 37th Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD) returns this year to the coastal city of La Rochelle, France after facing off budgetary headwinds.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 June 2026
Mike Hellgren Welcome back The race is heated and in the homestretch with two Democrats who are well known to voters facing off in the Tuesday, June 23rd, primary.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The first trailer finds James and Odin not only braving the elements but also facing off against a pack of wild wolves.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
This was the Scottish Cup football quarterfinal in March, where the two rival teams were facing off for the 451st time.
—Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
The concept emerged in response to Germany’s Panzer forces facing off against the heavier Char B-1 and Matilda II tanks during the Battle of France.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
That’s to be expected for a team few thought would make the playoffs at the start of the year, facing off against the league’s top regular-season team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The Patriots have a more difficult path to the postseason this year, facing off against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026
The 37th Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD) returns this year to the coastal city of La Rochelle, France after facing off budgetary headwinds.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 June 2026
Mike Hellgren Welcome back The race is heated and in the homestretch with two Democrats who are well known to voters facing off in the Tuesday, June 23rd, primary.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The first trailer finds James and Odin not only braving the elements but also facing off against a pack of wild wolves.
—Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
This was the Scottish Cup football quarterfinal in March, where the two rival teams were facing off for the 451st time.
—Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
The concept emerged in response to Germany’s Panzer forces facing off against the heavier Char B-1 and Matilda II tanks during the Battle of France.
—Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
That’s to be expected for a team few thought would make the playoffs at the start of the year, facing off against the league’s top regular-season team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 14 May 2026
The Patriots have a more difficult path to the postseason this year, facing off against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facing off
competing
Verb
-
Bowman has been competing at USA Basketball’s Under 17 World Cup training camp in Colorado.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Sixty years after the boycott, Africa has nine nations competing at this 48-team World Cup.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facing%20off. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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