as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rivalry
The company is ground zero in the U.S.-China tech rivalry — its GPUs might just be the most valuable components in the AI arms race, and its position is increasingly shaped by policy, not just engineering.
—
Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 28 May 2025
In what is turning into a great new rivalry, current No. 1 Marcello Jardim took out fast-rising newcomer Youssef Bouzidi in the final.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
But after a flagrant foul by Clark against Reese on Saturday, all the prior talk from each athlete about a lack of a rivalry seemed to falter.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
This is a space that is ripe for standardization, the entry of new players in the market, and more vendor rivalries and drama.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 28 May 2025
In what is turning into a great new rivalry, current No. 1 Marcello Jardim took out fast-rising newcomer Youssef Bouzidi in the final.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
But after a flagrant foul by Clark against Reese on Saturday, all the prior talk from each athlete about a lack of a rivalry seemed to falter.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
This is a space that is ripe for standardization, the entry of new players in the market, and more vendor rivalries and drama.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
-
Few trans athletes have reached elite levels of sports competition and even fewer have taken home top prizes, but their limited success has fueled the growing movement to ban them from participating on teams consistent with their gender identity.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
-
The Diamond League was the premier series of competition in the sport for a long time and still holds that title due to its longevity and structure.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Fires and recovery Crews battle fire burning in Pala, evacuations underway in northern San Diego County.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
Above, a curious duel unfolded: a seagull clashing mid-air with a hovering drone.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but Ureña won a nine-pitch duel with Jeff McNeil, striking out the second baseman with a 97-mph sinker, and Smith picked off Marte at third to complete a rare home-to-third, strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
The district developed some new policies after discovering COVID created not only bad habits but major struggles for families, including housing, employment and mental health, said Keith Oswald, chief of equity and wellness.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2025
-
Goldberg emphasized the struggle to balance his warrior mentality with his body's current limitations, especially during Muay Thai training.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Killer of Killers follows three warriors from different periods in history set against different Predator variants, using the tools of their time to take them on before a larger-scale conflict that will merge all the stories.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Several swaps have previously taken place between the two sides despite the ongoing conflict.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
An increase in the drone supply—in addition to their effectiveness in combat operations—is reflective of a strategic adaptation by NATO to new forms of warfare that increasingly rely on unmanned systems.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
-
The immediate incentive for our nation to enter that war was the declaration by Germany of unrestricted submarine warfare.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
In the ensuing violent confrontation, her son is killed.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
5 June 2025
-
The tense confrontation was the latest flashpoint between the Trump administration and Chicago over immigration policies — a potentially ominous sign for what’s ahead for the nation’s third-largest city, which has long been in the president’s crosshairs.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
The investigation also recommended fire officers and firefighters be trained in mayday operations, which was another bone of contention for Alston who maintains that all firefighters receive mayday training.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 May 2025
-
The first one practically eliminated Maryland from title contention as the Big Red went ahead, 10-7, with 13 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game.—
Mike Preston,
Baltimore Sun,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share