Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

outface

American  
[out-feys] / ˌaʊtˈfeɪs /

verb (used with object)

outfaced, outfacing
  1. to cause to submit by or as if by staring down; face or stare down.

  2. to face or confront boldly; defy.


outface British  
/ ˌaʊtˈfeɪs /

verb

  1. to face or stare down

  2. to confront boldly or defiantly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outface

First recorded in 1520–30; out- + face

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.

See Examples For:

She uses it to outface the world; more importantly, it stores the breath she releases when sculpting the air as she sings.

From The Guardian Apr. 9, 2011

Winston Churchill had flown back to Britain and this week would again bulge up in Parliament to face, and probably outface, his critics.

From Time Magazine Archive

A new English plutocracy, mercantile and determined to outface the landed gentry, was on the rise.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week Premier Bennett was back in Ottawa and Minister Stevens found that he could no longer outface the intolerable situation The Pamphlet had put him into.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thank you, ma'am," replied Biddy, "if it's faces you're spakin' about, I know you're able to outface me any day; but whatever's in my face there's no desate in my heart, Miss Lowry.

From Fardorougha, The Miser The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by William Carleton

Ned is not found until years later, but on the way every conceivable stereotype of the Old South and the Wild West is slyly overturned or brazenly outfaced.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Berinhed's Forest Tristran outfaced one of the great, tawny eagles, who would have carried them both back to its nest to feed its young and was afraid of nothing at all, save fire.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Then Claverhouse, who of all things loved not to be outfaced, ordered him peremptorily to obey.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett

She 146 had outfaced and routed the foe.

From The Backwoodsmen by Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts

And yet, for fear of seeming to be outfaced, he did not like to look away.

From A Christmas Garland by Sir Max Beerbohm

Alberto Carvalho wants to install outfacing perimeter cameras at schools to fend off crime, and has appealed to Mayor Karen Bass for speed bumps and flashing lights around campuses.

From Los Angeles Times May 4, 2023

Actor Muni has never been so impressive as he is in outfacing an armed camp of rebels; Actress Davis' mad scene is real cinematic excitement.

From Time Magazine Archive

A drawling commentary by Will James, interrupted by occasional dialog between human characters, accompanies the career of Smoky, a range-loving mustang who becomes leader of his herd by outfacing a mountain lion.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lo! the hot glare, outfacing the pale moonbeam, the fierce crimson blaze of torches gleaming far down the mountain side, a torrent of rushing fire!

From The Roman Traitor, Vol. 2 by Henry William Herbert

Well, anyhow, he would have the pleasure of meeting and outfacing the old rascal.

From The Window-Gazer by Isabel Ecclestone Mackay

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training