1
as in tournaments
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
a chess match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in marriages
a union representing a special kind of social and legal partnership between two people
from all appearances those two have got a good match there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in halves
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities
I can't find the match to this sock
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in equivalents
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
for a wife he wants a woman who will be his match in every aspect of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in pictures
something or someone that strongly resembles another
Erin is so nearly my exact match you'd think she must be my twin and not just my cousin
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rivalries
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the discussion soon degenerated into a pointless shouting match
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complements
to be the exact counterpart of
does this handbag's shade of blue match my navy blue pants? the rare blood type that exactly matched that of the transplant recipient
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2
3
as in meets
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value)
no one has ever been able to match that novel for its portrayal of the horrors of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of matches
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is playing host to nine World Cup matches between early June and mid-July.
—Josh Roberts, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
England, which is fourth in FIFA’s world rankings, plays group-stage matches in Arlington, Texas; Foxborough, Massachusetts; and East Rutherford, New Jersey.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
The 26-year-old winger is expected to miss the first four matches of LAFC’s MLS regular season as well as the early rounds of the CONCACAF Champions Cup over an approximate eight-week recovery.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
World Cup qualifying matches will be interspersed throughout the year.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The review shift matches similar changes made at Amazon since Jassy took over from founder Jeff Bezos as CEO.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
They have been drawn in a group with West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal and first-time qualifiers Italy and will play their matches in Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium) and Kolkata (Eden Gardens).
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The stadium hosts the college football championship game later this month, Formula 1 racing events in May and World Cup matches in July.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
This Hermes Kelly Bag Craie matches the COS scarf coat but brings back a little structure to the look.
—Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
The official did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for clarification, since eight weeks matches the timeframe that The Atlantic previously reported.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Most teams use backups and practice squad players to build a scout team that matches up against the starters in practice.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
These clips are your go-tos for hair that matches any mood.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 6 Jan. 2026
Denver and Colorado Springs are at 57% outbound, higher than the state average, while Greeley matches the state average at 55%.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Each window has a flower box that matches the tiny house’s wooden exterior and easily mounts just below the base.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
The number of judges who received termination letters matches the tally kept by the immigration judges' union.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
The county has worked for months with UCSD and Scripps researchers to absorb the protocols created by local researchers, gradually fine-tuning models so that the data that the county’s process creates matches with what has already been collected and published by the research effort.
—Verb
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s Angel Tree program matches children in need with anonymous donors who buy them presents for Christmas, and provides senior citizens with gifts.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for matches
Noun
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His father, Chris, a longtime broadcaster for Swedish station SVT, has worked 20 of the tournaments.—
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Before coming to Minnesota this year, the World Juniors title had been won by either Canada or the United States for the previous six tournaments.—
Noun
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Butker, who entered the season as one of the NFL’s top kickers, missed five kicks over his next seven halves of football.—
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Working in batches if needed, arrange pepper halves in a single layer in air-fryer basket.—
Noun
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Both remain short of the team equivalents in the United States.—
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Dry cereal, such as Cheerios, Kix, Chex, or store-brand equivalents.—
Noun
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Many protesters have taken to carrying signs showing pictures of Good.—
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As of Sunday, Nado continues his search for Pico, posting flyers with pictures and contact information.—
Noun
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Anyone who has followed the devastating violence in California’s prisons knows that gang rivalries trigger a lot of the bloodshed.—
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With the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers set to face off in Saturday nights' playoff game, some local couples are hoping love can overcome even the biggest of rivalries.—
Verb
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The Ultra Skyrise Wide-leg Pants by Wit & Wisdom, now 30 percent off, offer a timeless, flowy design that complements any look on or off the clock.—
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Bonus points for selecting a color that complements your top.—
Verb
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This log cabin, set along the Lake Michigan shoreline, marries the rustic allure of traditional wood paneling with sophisticated furnishings.—
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Their hybrid advisory model takes the best of tradition and marries it to innovation, ensuring that strategies grow alongside families’ needs.—
Verb
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Meanwhile, Netflix’s Tudum site described Gage’s character, Buck, as a wild child who meets Poppy and Alex during a camping trip.—
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Timeless Southern hospitality meets sartorial sophistication at this chic Buckhead hotel.—
Cite this Entry
“Matches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matches. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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