Synonyms of face-off

face-off 1 of 2

noun

ˈfās-ˌȯf 

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

• rivalry
• battle
• duel
• competition
• confrontation
• struggle
• warfare
• conflict
• contest
• contention
• match
• war
• showdown
• clash
• strife
• tug-of-war
• dogfight
• ball game
• combat
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• grapple
• debate
• dispute
• nail-biter
• collision
• disputation
• quarrel
• friction
• horse race
• controversy
• discord
• argument
• disagreement
• row
• dissension
• dissention
• wrangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

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

• compete
• contend
• race
• fight
• rival
• battle
• vie
• try out
• go out
• play
• challenge
• engage
• maneuver
• work
• jockey
• jostle
• train

Examples of face-off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This celebrated annual event has grown to be a cultural phenomenon, bringing together 16 of the illest, most clever improvisational wordsmiths in the country — all hailing from different Latin American backgrounds — to compete for the best lyrical face-off. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2024

In early June, a Biden-Trump face-off looked like an even match. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024

Verb

Harris is less than three weeks away from facing off against former President Donald Trump on Election Day. —Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Oct. 2024

The matchup was a sign of the current times in college football — a pair of veteran, transfer quarterbacks leading teams separated by nearly 2,500 miles, yet facing off in league play thanks to conference realignment. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2024