matchups

noun

plural of matchup
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a boxing matchup that promises to be a sportswriter's dream

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 matchups Burrow has also beaten Lawrence in both of their head-to-head matchups in the NFL. — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The frequency of their matchups hasn’t brought peace between the teams either. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 But if three losses isn't a death sentence, are programs more likely to risk it with higher-profile matchups? — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Outside of Josh Allen’s massive Week 1, Houston’s other two matchups against Cincinnati and Indianapolis produced modest QB finishes (QB15 and QB28). — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026 Boston and New York have split six previous postseason matchups. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 These include Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football games, as well as the NFL International Series and Netflix matchups. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 Dolphins interior linemen like center Aaron Brewer and guards Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea could get matchups against seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 Thousands of fans will cast ballots in head-to-head matchups to decide which bear best embodies the survival skills and healthy appetite needed to make it through Alaska's harshest months. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matchups
  1. tournaments
  2. games
  3. events
  4. competitions
  5. matches
Noun
  • Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 manga laid the groundwork for some of the genre's most enduring tropes (gender switching, horny old guys, tournaments), and this is the second anime adaptation, this time from Studio MAPPA.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Bank of Utah Championship is the second of eight tournaments that are part of the FedEx Cup Fall, where the top 100 in the standings at the end of the year keep full cards for next year.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • More than 15 years after the regular series concluded, Action Arena‘s games continue to entertain audiences.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Older kids will enjoy the beach games, kayaks, paddleboards, and bike rentals.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • Harris has held campaign events in California, Nevada, and Georgia, starting her tour off in Michigan to stump with the progressive Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, Abdul el Sayed.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Flashbacks to recent events reveal that the townspeople never let Hal find peace, and even firebombed his home, only for a grown-up Noah — Kerry’s son, and Zoe’s grandson — to save him and regenerate his skin using Zoe’s covert alien tech.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • Vidio’s original slate now tops 110 series, and the platform carries more than 70 global and national sports competitions, among them Wimbledon, Formula 1 and MotoGP.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Jeff Richardson, the Galleria’s senior general manager, said Great Big Game Show is coming to the Galleria, bringing game-show-style competitions to Roseville.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Are big brands and competitive matches enough to sustain the league, if clubs can’t afford to splash for the world’s biggest talents?
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Each of his last three matches attracted more than 13,000 attendees, enough to fill roughly 99% of the Diamond Court’s capacity.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of matches

Browse Nearby Words

matchup
matchups
mate
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Cite this Entry

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

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