sparring

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.

Vietnam and China have a history of sparring over the South China Sea, or the East Sea as Vietnam calls it.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

“People are now using AI as a sparring partner, rather than just the internet as a research tool.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

After weeks of verbal sparring, the U.S. announced that it was sending Rubio to Rome later this week.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

His sparring with the president appears to be part of an aggressive strategy to amplify his own messaging as he weighs a potential run for president in 2028.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

I sigh, even though I enjoy sparring with him.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton