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Definitions

matchup

NOUN
competition
Synonyms
STRONGEST
championship clash event fight game match meeting race rivalry sport struggle tournament trial
STRONG
antagonism bout candidacy contention controversy counteraction emulation encounter engagement jungle opposition puzzle quiz racing run strife striving tilt tug-of-war warfare
WEAK
athletic event concours do-or-die dog-eat-dog go for it go for the gold horse race one-on-one one-upping pairing off rat race
Antonyms
STRONGEST
peace
STRONG
accord agreement harmony surrender sympathy
NOUN
rivalry
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antagonism clash conflict contest duel encounter event fight jealousy race strife struggle tug-of-war
STRONG
bout candidacy emulation engagement game match opposition sport tournament
WEAK
athletic event one-on-one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement calm harmony peace

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The teams play again Wednesday night at Hart Park, and it’s quite a pitching matchup: Gary Morse vs.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Angela Dugalic continued to be the matchup nightmare she has been all March; the 6-4 sixth woman scored 15 timely points to take some pressure off Betts.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

McGurn had a lightbulb moment about a potential TAE-Yorkville matchup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

“You shouldn’t trust that matchup — it was made up,” ChatGPT admitted at one point.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Lena only went because she’s a cheerleader, and she said it was the lousiest turnout she’d ever seen for a Condors-Raiders matchup.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.