Meaning & use
duel
A formal fight between two people, using agreed weapons, typically to settle a matter of honor.
See it in a sentence
The two officers nearly fought a duel over the insult at dinner.
Historical novels often describe a pistol duel fought at dawn between rivals.
A note on using this word
Duel is also used figuratively for any intense one-on-one contest, as in a chess duel or a duel of wits.
Words with a similar meaning
confrontation
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “duel”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.