as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a duel for the title of captain of the team
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of duel
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Ragen is a steady bedrock, winning 67% of his aerial duels while being more difficult to dribble past than most in his position.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025
The dueling lawsuits that are reportedly in the process of being settled were filed in the period between the dual restraining order agreement and the arbitration ruling.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for duel 
Noun
There are no gilded gates here, but there is one heck of a party, complete with serenading busts, ballroom dancers, excitable opera singers, drunken buffoonery and portraits locked in an endless duel.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Ragen is a steady bedrock, winning 67% of his aerial duels while being more difficult to dribble past than most in his position.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
The dispute led to dueling claims that each side assaulted the other during a May 3 confrontation outside the California Waste Solutions’ headquarters on Embarcadero.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025
The dueling lawsuits that are reportedly in the process of being settled were filed in the period between the dual restraining order agreement and the arbitration ruling.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for duel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duel
Noun
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While opposed by every government in the region, ISIS-K has exploited insecurity and international rivalries to entrench itself as one of the world's deadliest and most unpredictable non-state actors in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
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But Kendrick did not have to straddle a white-hot rivalry like Velazquez.—
Matt Baker,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Emhoff’s portfolio as the first Second Gentleman included representing the U.S. at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and numerous other diplomatic events, and leading the administration’s work combatting antisemitism.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
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Educators have long relied on Holocaust curricula to combat antisemitism.—
Mark Treyger,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rose served in the band from its inception in 1977 to 2017, after Willis regained 50 percent of the copyright to the band in a protracted legal battle.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, more borrower-friendly regulations for the Borrower Defense to Repayment program remain stuck in a legal battle.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After initially joining the Sky on a training camp contract, Carter fought her way into the starting lineup last season.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
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Despite the order from Biden, 82, both Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and now-President Trump, 78, fought to have the flags raised for the inauguration, which fell within the 30-day mourning period.—
Lizzie Hyman,
People.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The film doesn’t paint him as a cautionary tale, treat him like a metaphor, or revel in the spectacle of his struggles.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
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Sly Stone's struggles with cocaine have been well documented, even, at times, eclipsing his achievements as an artist.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The club put him on waivers last season but no contending clubs bit.—
Andrew Baggarly,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
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At the meeting, housing advocates contended that the county‘s waiver proposal would slash too many restrictions, bypassing laws aimed at solving the region’s affordable housing crisis.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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An 18-year-old Button first came to prominence in 1948, winning Olympic gold in St. Moritz, Switzerland, by being the first skater to land a double axel in competition.—
David K. Li,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2025
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Maxim had competed at the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita and finished fourth in the senior men's competition.—
Lawrence Yee,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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An Israeli soldier was injured in the confrontation, the military said.—
Matthew Mpoke Bigg,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The two still-unidentified men reportedly talked about being armed and tried to provoke a confrontation.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near duel
Cite this Entry
“Duel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duel. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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