FACE OFF Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

face-off 1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf

Definition of face-off

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

face off

2 of 2

verb

as in to compete

to engage in a contest eager to face off with her longtime tennis rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of face-off

Noun

Our Avengers assemble for one final face-off against Thanos, bringing some heroes’ stories to a close and teasing others that are just beginning. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 For national tournaments, the corollary is how poorer countries always have to match up against richer ones for regional face-offs and qualifiers that culminate in the quadrennial dream that is the World Cup. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Verb

Attorney Ron Schutz is facing off against current Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 Bring a cozy blanket to watch Rumi, Mira and Zoey face off against the Saja Boys — and discover that good and bad aren’t always so clear-cut. — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for face-off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for face-off

Noun

Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, who ripped off their rivalry bit from Fred Allen and Jack Benny!

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
At least for one day, one of the league’s great rivalries returns — with Kansas City remaining undefeated into its early bye.

— Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Verb

Travel retail is no longer a price-value proposition that competes just with the high street, but also with platforms such as Amazon, Rakuten and Tmall around the globe.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Colors are neutral and echo the surroundings rather than competing with them—stone-gray throw blankets and pillows, beige arm chairs, white walls–and artwork is at a minimum, maybe a tasteful landscape photograph in a simple black frame.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of compete

Noun

Chinese media reported that PLA forces deployed Type 99A main battle tanks alongside drones, uncrewed ground vehicles and helicopters.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Alabama and Mississippi State battle, and Underdog is offering new users a chance to use promo code FOXNEWS to earn up to $100 in bonus bets on a $5 wager.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Through the season’s first two weeks, any thoughts of the Falcons contending for a playoff spot appeared delusional and all conversations appeared moot.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Mancuso filed a $45 million breach-of-contract suit, contending that he’d been fired, and later settled for as much as $20 million.

— Richard Natale, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of contend

Noun

And in the second half, the game turned into a duel between standout QBs each making his sixth college start.

— PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Othani, who has won four MVP awards in five seasons, including one with the Los Angeles Angels, was considered the MVP front-runner most of the season, until the duel in the sun changed things.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of duel

Verb

The bet runs against the massive investment pouring into AI infrastructure, as technology companies race to secure the computing power needed to develop and run increasingly advanced AI models.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Streets follows an East LA street racing crew thrust into a dangerous, high-stakes hunt across Southern California, where every turn presents a new clue and a potential disaster.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of race

Noun

Decisions about industrial policy, infrastructure, public spending, and competition increasingly have to account not only for emissions but climate risk.

— Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
But could Cruise use his movie star promotion power to get himself into the best-actor Oscar competition, despite the film suffering from tepid reviews and a possibly paltry box office?

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

Anderson’s confrontation is part of a growing trend of actors voicing their concerns to theatergoers.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Vienna is about 130 miles south of Atlanta and about a 50-mile drive south on the Interstate 75 corridor from Macon, where 12 teenagers were wounded by gunfire during a confrontation at a birthday party last week at a city park.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontation

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facelift

face-off

face off

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Style

“Face-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/face-off. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of face-off

noun

verb

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