matchups

noun

plural of matchup
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a boxing matchup that promises to be a sportswriter's dream

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 matchups The defendants raised concerns about their authority to control matchups, competition rules and other students’ privacy. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The teams met three times in a brief span during the summer — and Atlanta lost all three matchups. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Consider tossing out trade offers for Kraft before favorable upcoming matchups versus Dallas and Detroit. — Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 The Texans have won three of their last four matchups with Jacksonville, but the Jaguars are rolling this season. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 From when the trophy was introduced in 2006 to its replacement in 2023, Boise State won 11 of the 14 regular-season matchups between the teams. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026 Week 5 brings plenty of intriguing fantasy matchups, but also some tough spots for players who have been inconsistent to start the season. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 The Tigers have lost the last three matchups, failing to score more than 17 points in each of those games. — Pj Green october 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026 American League games continue tonight, while National League matchups will pick up tomorrow. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matchups
  1. tournaments
  2. games
  3. events
  4. competitions
  5. matches
Noun
  • Families spend thousands on travel teams, private lessons and tournaments.
    — Jonathan Alpert OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Schools that advance in the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, for example, receive a greater share of NCAA revenue.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tournaments
Noun
  • The Dodgers will have home-field advantage for the next three games, needing to win four of the next five to return to the World Series.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Penix missed the first two games of the regular season recovering from Achilles tendon surgery last November, during which the Falcons lost twice and the offense did not enter the red zone in either game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of games
Noun
  • Hundreds also turned out for a No Kings protest in Boise Saturday, one of 3,000 such events nationwide aimed at mobilizing early voters.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Part of its purpose, from the beginning, was not only to deliver new facts but to interpret ragged events for a nervous audience of relatively prosperous, largely white viewers who shared Wallace’s concern about the shape and tenor of the future.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier and helping pave the way for other integration in domestic sports competitions.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The event premiered in 2024 with Sinner winning each of the first two competitions.
    — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Al Drago / Getty The Maryland club tennis team forfeited its matches in the tournament, which continued for all other participating teams over the weekend.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Her departure was confirmed on Thursday, after just two rounds of matches in this season’s competition.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of matches

Browse Nearby Words

matchup
matchups
mate
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Cite this Entry

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

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