grudge match
noun
: a contest or fight between players, teams, etc., who dislike each other
The race had turned into a grudge match between the two teams.
Examples of grudge match in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wednesday night gives us a grudge match worth watching, and a sliding-doors moment to bask in and nerd out.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Both sides look set to sail through qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026, but that won’t spoil the spectacle of an outright grudge match that both sides will be desperate to win.
—Sam Tighe, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Texas Republicans said Paxton seems likely to enter the race in what could become a grudge match between two candidates representing opposing wings of the party.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 2 Feb. 2025
Zayn’s best bet at getting on the WrestleMania card might be a non-wrestling role in the grudge match between Owens and Randy Orton.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
By Gal Beckerman One of the stranger moments among many in yesterday’s White House presser turned grudge match with Volodymyr Zelensky was a query about the Ukrainian president’s outfit.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2025
Edwards has taken his time returning to the Octagon since losing his title to Belal Muhammad in another grudge match in July.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
The Tkachuk brothers, who were involved in the two of the three fights that broke out in the first nine seconds of Saturday night’s grudge match, are expected to play in the championship game.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Prince Harry Hails 'Monumental' Victory In Lawsuit Against The Sun
By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
259
Prince Harry has settled his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's U.K. newspaper division in a shock U-turn that brings an end to a six-year marathon courtroom grudge match.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
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Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Both sides look set to sail through qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026, but that won’t spoil the spectacle of an outright grudge match that both sides will be desperate to win.
—Sam Tighe, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Texas Republicans said Paxton seems likely to enter the race in what could become a grudge match between two candidates representing opposing wings of the party.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 2 Feb. 2025
Zayn’s best bet at getting on the WrestleMania card might be a non-wrestling role in the grudge match between Owens and Randy Orton.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
By Gal Beckerman One of the stranger moments among many in yesterday’s White House presser turned grudge match with Volodymyr Zelensky was a query about the Ukrainian president’s outfit.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2025
Edwards has taken his time returning to the Octagon since losing his title to Belal Muhammad in another grudge match in July.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
The Tkachuk brothers, who were involved in the two of the three fights that broke out in the first nine seconds of Saturday night’s grudge match, are expected to play in the championship game.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Prince Harry Hails 'Monumental' Victory In Lawsuit Against The Sun
By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
259
Prince Harry has settled his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's U.K. newspaper division in a shock U-turn that brings an end to a six-year marathon courtroom grudge match.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grudge match.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grudge%20match. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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