showdown

noun

Definition of showdownnext
as in confrontation

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 showdown The candidate forum, held on Thursday night in Woodland and moderated by League of Women Voters of Yolo County, was a more confrontational showdown than their debate just one day earlier. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 In winning this best-of-five series three games to one, the Dodgers now can prepare for a best-of-seven showdown against the mighty Milwaukee Brewers. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 From bingo to $46 billion As federal funding shrank in the 1970s, some tribes turned to bingo to raise money, sparking a legal showdown with states that restricted gambling. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 And what viewers got was mostly an old-fashioned showdown focused on policy. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for showdown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showdown
  1. confrontation
  2. duel
  3. rivalry
  4. war
  5. battle
  6. competition
  7. face-off
  8. warfare
Noun
  • The cause of their displeasure has to do with scenes woven throughout that illustrate how Baldwin got his reputation for angry outbursts – confrontations with paparazzi through the years, for instance.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Rodan-Benzaquen argued that intensifying political confrontation could help Mélenchon consolidate his support among younger voters and immigrant communities, while portraying the far right as an increasingly serious threat.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of confrontation
Noun
  • The Brewers defended home turf in Game 1 of the NLCS, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2–1 in a tight pitching duel.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And in the second half, the game turned into a duel between standout QBs each making his sixth college start.
    — PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of duel
Noun
  • The alleged rivalry between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle was seemingly dying down—but then Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The group will confront old tensions and determine if these chapters can finally be closed, or if some rivalries are simply too deep to leave in the past.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • Montanans are suffocating due to an affordability crisis, rising fuel prices and an inexplicable war.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • On Monday, Zelenskyy said holding elections in Ukraine was impossible during war time, especially with new Russian tactics involving attacks day and night.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • Still, when the measles outbreak erupted, Bangladesh responded swiftly and initially seemed to be winning the battle.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Policy Policy Your guide to the Supreme Court, federal courts, judicial nominations, and the legal battles shaping American policy.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • The five-episode doc follows Five Guys’ global competition of crew members from local qualifying rounds to the ultimate championship.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Economist Thomas Philippon calculates that weakened competition costs the typical household about $300 a month.
    — Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of competition
Noun
  • Continue reading … EMPIRE STATE BOUT — Most fiery moments from Lawler's face-off against Dem in race for control of Congress.
    — , FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Her father, Ravi Shankar, wasn’t up for any Grammys that year, avoiding a family face-off.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of face-off
Noun
  • Needless to say, the system has to be robust enough to handle battlefield conditions, including electronic warfare and communications blackouts.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Electronic warfare can create additional challenges for systems that depend on wireless links.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of warfare

Browse Nearby Words

showcasing
showdown
showdowns
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All