1
: a combat between two persons
specifically
: a formal combat with weapons fought between two persons in the presence of witnesses
2
: a conflict between antagonistic persons, ideas, or forces
also
: a hard-fought contest between two opponents
dueled or duelled; dueling or duelling
: to fight a duel
: to encounter (an opponent) in a duel
dueler
noun
or dueller
Synonyms
Examples of duel in a Sentence
Noun
They engaged in a duel of wits.
a duel for the title of captain of the team
Verb
He accepted the challenge to duel.
Legislators dueled over the tax increases.
The two runners dueled for the lead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
Many here see the current Dodgers-Yankees World Series matchup as a throwback to the teams’ last postseason showdown — the memorable 1981 duel, during peak Fernandomania, in which a gritty Valenzuela led the Dodgers back from a two-game deficit to take out New York.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Related Articles Three charged in Argentina in connection with Liam Payne’s death
Controversial Australian Olympic breaker retires from competition
Chigvintsev was released on bail several hours after his arrest, and the estranged couple filed dueling requests for restraining orders.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for duel 
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Noun
And More Ahead Of Final Two Episodes Rio still wants one of them, which spells a duel brewing.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
Many here see the current Dodgers-Yankees World Series matchup as a throwback to the teams’ last postseason showdown — the memorable 1981 duel, during peak Fernandomania, in which a gritty Valenzuela led the Dodgers back from a two-game deficit to take out New York.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
In a game of dueling masterpieces from Nikola Jokic and Kyrie Irving, neither of them dealt the decisive blow.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Related Articles Three charged in Argentina in connection with Liam Payne’s death
Controversial Australian Olympic breaker retires from competition
Chigvintsev was released on bail several hours after his arrest, and the estranged couple filed dueling requests for restraining orders.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for duel
Dictionary Entries Near duel
Cite this Entry
“Duel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duel. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
duel
1 of 2 noun
du·el
ˈd(y)ü-əl 
1
: a combat between two persons
especially
: one fought with weapons in the presence of witnesses
2
: a conflict between two opponents
duel
2 of 2 verb
dueled or duelled; dueling or duelling
: to fight in a duel
dueler
noun
or dueller
Etymology
Noun
from Latin duellum "duel," from an archaic form of earlier bellum "war"; revived in the Middle Ages to mean combat between two persons because the du- suggested Latin duo "two"
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