DUEL Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

duel 1 of 2

noun

ˈdü-əl

Definition of duel

as in rivalry

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another a duel for the title of captain of the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

duel

2 of 2

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 duel

Noun

What was expected to be a pitchers’ duel between Dodgers rotation leader Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Sale lived up to the hype. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Wolf faces this Isshin in a final duel and emerges victorious. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway through which the region’s insecurity quickly becomes a global economic problem, remained hostage to dueling coercive measures. — Ali Vaez, Time, 15 June 2026 On the morning of dueling public marches (now also featuring gay-rights activists), Roche, who has moved to the area temporarily, succeeds in kidnapping Cantrell. — Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for duel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duel

Noun

Nattie challenged Jaida Parker to a submission match for Heatwave as their rivalry turned up a notch.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The handlers may represent rival schools, but those rivalries tend to stop at the kennel, pasture or habitat gate, especially when another mascot is sick, retiring or in need of support.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Verb

Washington, however, still retains many of the tools needed to combat global hunger.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance in the state.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of combat

Noun

The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Their arrival is also welcome for many locals, battered by the economic impact of the Iran war their American visitors were fighting.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
When ships are fighting in narrow waterways under heavy surveillance, visibility quickly becomes a deadly liability.

— HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of fight

Noun

While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Verb

The disclosure contends that, because of the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Defense attorneys contend that because only a single bullet was fired — and struck its target — the crowd was not at risk.

— Bill Chappell, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of contend

Noun

The revelation of the changes comes amid intense competition in the AI industry, as companies release updates to their large language models at a frenetic pace, each seeking to pull ahead of the other.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Consumer prices rose anyway, because without competition, Amazon could charge more in the long run.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of competition

Verb

But the Young Bucks have been a dominant force in tag team wrestling for years.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrestle

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due

duel

dueled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Duel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duel. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of duel

noun

verb

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