sparring partner
noun
1
: someone who helps a boxer practice : someone a boxer spars with for training
2
: a person that someone has serious but friendly arguments with
They have been political sparring partners for years.
Examples of sparring partner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That complex relationship takes on a new tone when Hecate acts as the game's first major boss, offering both a friendly sparring partner and a relentless, almost mocking test of Melinoe's readiness for the task ahead of her.
—
Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 2 May 2024
His sparring partner in cross-examination was Lloyd Whelchel, a 54-year-old former Division I college football player and longtime Tarrant County homicide prosecutor who six weeks ago handled a case in which a jury sent the defendant to death row.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2024
Circle the calendar: Edwards’ Wildcats, an old Big Eight/Big 12 rival who’ll become a regular sparring partner with CU again, visit Boulder on Oct. 12.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 May 2024
His main sparring partner is Sandrine Rousseau, an economist and a Green Party member of Parliament who was a leader of the French #MeToo movement.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Having a very capable sparring partner in the courtroom adds another obstacle to the already complex case.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Grammer disappears back into his signature role, but without his one true sparring partner, Frasier feels adrift.
—TIME, 9 Oct. 2023
The whole thing becomes a lesson on how to give your sparring partner the right amount of rope to figuratively hang themselves.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2023
The moves included throwing punches while doing sit-ups, sparring at a fierce pace, dodging punches, and kicking her sparring partner in the abs.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
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Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 2 May 2024
His sparring partner in cross-examination was Lloyd Whelchel, a 54-year-old former Division I college football player and longtime Tarrant County homicide prosecutor who six weeks ago handled a case in which a jury sent the defendant to death row.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2024
Circle the calendar: Edwards’ Wildcats, an old Big Eight/Big 12 rival who’ll become a regular sparring partner with CU again, visit Boulder on Oct. 12.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 May 2024
His main sparring partner is Sandrine Rousseau, an economist and a Green Party member of Parliament who was a leader of the French #MeToo movement.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Having a very capable sparring partner in the courtroom adds another obstacle to the already complex case.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 6 June 2023
Grammer disappears back into his signature role, but without his one true sparring partner, Frasier feels adrift.
—TIME, 9 Oct. 2023
The whole thing becomes a lesson on how to give your sparring partner the right amount of rope to figuratively hang themselves.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2023
The moves included throwing punches while doing sit-ups, sparring at a fierce pace, dodging punches, and kicking her sparring partner in the abs.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near sparring partner
Cite this Entry
“Sparring partner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparring%20partner. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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