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go up against

VERB
combat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cope fight oppose repel resist withstand
STRONG
battle buck clash contend contest defy dispute duel engage strive struggle traverse war
WEAK
cross swords with do battle with put up a fight shoot it out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
support surrender yield
STRONG
agree give in give up make peace
WEAK
compromise retreat run
VERB
confront
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accost defy encounter meet oppose repel resist
STRONG
affront beard brave dare flout front scorn withstand
WEAK
call one's bluff come up against face down face off face up to face with go one-on-one make my day meet eyeball-to-eyeball stand up to tell off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid dodge evade surrender yield
WEAK
back down
VERB
face
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allow challenge confront deal with encounter endure experience fight meet oppose risk run into suffer take
STRONG
abide accost affront bear beard brace brave brook contend countenance court cross dare defy eyeball resist stand stomach submit sustain swallow tolerate venture withstand
WEAK
be confronted by bit the bullet cope with fly in face of grapple with make a stand square off take it take on take the bull by the horns tell off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist avoid disallow discontinue dodge help hold keep refuse reject support surrender yield
STRONG
disapprove evade give in give up halt hide ignore leave resist shun stop veto
WEAK
back retreat run withdraw
VERB
face-off
Synonyms
STRONG
argue brave challenge confront dare defy go one-on-one take on
VERB
struggle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compete contend grapple
STRONG
battle brawl buck contest hassle romp rough-house row scrap scuffle shuffle slug smack tangle
WEAK
bump heads cross swords lock horns put up a fight
Antonyms
STRONG
agree concur make peace
WEAK
idle laze rest surrender yield
VERB
take on
Synonyms
WEAK
brave buck call out confront dare defy denounce dispute face-off go eyeball to eyeball with go one on one with go toe to toe with hang in insist upon investigate invite competition make a stand object to question stand up to throw down the gauntlet
Antonyms
WEAK
refuse reject
VERB
tussle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
scuffle tangle wrestle
STRONG
battle box brawl conflict contest fight grapple hassle romp rough-house row scrap
WEAK
bump heads lock horns put up a fight
Antonyms
STRONG
agree concur harmonize make 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.

Much like Wintour, Bolton and so many working in media, Miranda and her cohorts go up against a handful of billionaires who have the power to decide Runway’s fate.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Senate and will face a runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn to see who will go up against Democratic State Rep. James Talarico in November.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Davies is set to go up against YouTuber George Clarke and football commentator Karen Carney in the finale on Saturday after 12 weeks of competition.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

During extreme drought in Iran worsened by climate change, farmers were desperate enough to go up against security forces, demanding access to river water.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025

I go up against Tagoe and Rock beats Scissors.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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