RIVALRIES Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

rivalries

noun

plural of rivalry

as in battles

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 rivalries College football is almost here, bringing back decades-long rivalries, close games and, of course, die-hard fan bases. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026 However, in recent years bilateral ties have plunged, marred by frequent tit-for-tat trade tensions and growing geopolitical rivalries. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026 Professional sports have always thrived on heroes, villains, rivalries and grievances. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Rookie rivalries While Wilson is looking forward to his first game in his hometown, most of the league will be tracking how the rookie matches up against the other top talent in the 2026 draft class. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Fighting games are a cross-cultural nexus that spark heated rivalries but ultimately forge lasting connections. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026 The rivalry dates all the way back to the 1890s, when proximity and hate fueled one of the coolest regional rivalries in the sport. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalries

Noun

The policy updates come amid the slew of ongoing legal battles by players who were originally part of the 2022 high school recruiting class seeking a fifth year of collegiate eligibility.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Then came battles with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of battles

Noun

The players air their grievances, which are essentially a pile of petty conflicts and resentments that, as Alice warned, can be traced back to the team fracturing into cliques.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Mia Wasikowska perfectly embodies the role of Agata, a writer returning to her home continent, seeking to understand and reconnect with the wounds of the recent past, and with the ways in which unresolved conflicts continue to echo in the present.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflicts

Noun

Birth of daughter and personal struggles Meanwhile, following a lull in her career in the late 1990s, Smith returned to the spotlight in 2000.

— Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
In reality, Loesby contends, many struggles reflect predictable structural mismatches — a lawyer who prefers depth and analysis struggling in a role that rewards constant responsiveness, or one who thrives on collaboration disengaging in isolation.

— Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggles

Noun

By that point, Hull had won almost twice as many duels as United and were also winning the game.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.

— Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026

Definition of duels

Noun

Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations.

— Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Critical milestones in this transitional phase of the movement were the deadly confrontations between white Christian extremists and federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho (1992), and Waco, Texas (1993).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontations

Noun

Many healthcare policy analysts disagree with these contentions about fraud, noting partisan politics have now become part of the dissemination of government reports.

— Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, whose tenure brought team success and three World Series contentions, now faces significant scrutiny over his business practices.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of contentions

Noun

The treaty has endured three wars and prolonged periods of diplomatic tensions but has come under increasing strain in recent years.

— Sam Meredith,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Kitchen has seen some properties pushed even higher than that as sales frequently turn into bidding wars.

— Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of wars

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rivaling

rivalries

rivalrous

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“Rivalries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalries. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rivalries

noun

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