DUELS Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

duels 1 of 2

noun

plural of duel

as in rivalries

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

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duels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of duel

as in battles

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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 duels

Noun

In defence, his lack of physicality is becoming more glaring in a Premier League that is leaning more heavily than ever into duels, second balls and set pieces. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 The noodles, the cheese, the topping, the consistency—duels have been fought over less. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026 Patrick Smith / Getty Images The Shelton-Alcaraz epic now stands as the latest finish in the history of the New York tournament, which is increasingly known for its overnight duels. — Max Burman, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026 Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games. — Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duels

Noun

Fans care about rivalries among teams made up of students who generally progress through college and exhaust their eligibility alongside their classmates, rather than athletes whose college careers extend well beyond the traditional timeline.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
There are a few big rivalries in the NFL, but almost none have as much history as Chicago and Green Bay.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

If last week’s Atlanta News First debate discouraged direct confrontations, Tuesday’s Atlanta Press Club showdown gave the two rivals room to unload on each other.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined student protesters in France on Tuesday after weeks of violent confrontations with police, thousands of arrests and widespread school closures over demands for education reform.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Verb

As Ukraine fights a larger, richer and better-equipped enemy, Kyiv sees the strikes on Russian oil refineries as one of its few instruments to reduce Moscow’s ability to fight.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Gemma, still recovering from her injury, fights her impulses and stays on the sideline.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fights

Verb

FinCEN is the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which combats money laundering, illicit financial activities and terrorist financing networks around the world.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
How Wisconsin combats loneliness Sampson said re-establishing connection to other people can often be a trial-and-error process.

— Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of combats

Noun

Ohio State could still beat USC on the road, even with a backup, considering the Trojans' struggles to win big games under Riley and their suffocating defense.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Kansas City officials have acknowledged the city’s struggles to address homelessness, with reports ranking the city as among the worst in terms of the number of people without shelter.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

Some of the roughly 18 locations were chosen, Hale contends, because the city failed to respond to numerous 311 calls for improvement.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
But Uthmeier contends an overly broad reading of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause has been twisted into a tool to suppress Christians and other believers.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of contends

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duels

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“Duels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duels. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of duels

noun

verb

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