RIVALRY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

rivalry

noun

ˈrī-vəl-rē

Definition of rivalry

as in competition

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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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 chiefs rivalries uniforms will honor arrowhead stadium considering the 4 year window with these rivalry uniforms will be the last 4 years at arrowhead. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 This guy theorized that the debate had something to do with the cross-town rivalry between the city’s two high schools. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 And in the preceding match, the Canadian international converted on a free kick in second-half stoppage time to hand the Summit a 2-1 victory over Utah in the Continental Divide rivalry match. — Karan Lodha, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The two had a major falling out when Shakur pressed Snoop Dogg to take sides in the West Coast-East Coast rivalry. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rivalry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry

Noun

Combined with recent updates across several companies in the AI industry, the AI competition appears to have entered a new phase centered on cost-efficiency.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Horse racing revenue in Illinois had been dwindling for years due to competition from casinos, the lottery, and video and sports gambling.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

The only intrigue at offensive line was the backup center battle between Hudson and Patrick.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Naturally, with three more Salt Lake City wives at the Alter Ego Party, Gizelle is ready to further investigate why Lisa is in a battle with her whole cast.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Also, Napoli will host Como in a duel between Champions League participants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
If both top closers have to do more or less the same thing, namely, stay in contention, arguably what has to happen here for either to hit the wire first, then the next question is, who wins in a stretch duel.

— Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

While Craig will get most of the attention, TCU’s revamped offensive line also had its struggles throughout the day.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Those struggles have become increasingly difficult for the Blue Jays to ignore as the season has progressed.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

The legal challenge intensified an unusually public dispute over how AI can be used in warfare and mass surveillance.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Rather than designing an entirely new robotic counter-drone vehicle, the companies combined an existing robotic platform with an existing sensing and electronic warfare capability.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

Not long afterward, two dozen Border Patrol agents descended on Roosevelt High School as class was getting out, prompting a confrontation in which the agents deployed pepper spray and arrested four people, including a teacher.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
First was the question of how to manage Russia’s elites, many of whom were less than enthusiastic about a direct confrontation with the West.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Noun

The Hawkeyes could be a good team but go 0-3 and see their CFP hopes dashed, but even one victory could keep them in Playoff contention.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
That might be a problem for the Commanders because their contention is that these Redskins items are sold on a limited availability.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of contention

Browse Nearby Words

rivalrous

rivalry

rivals

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“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rivalry

noun

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