as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivalry
The operation, led by Antioch police, centered on the gang’s rivalry with another group, and led to charges against members from both gangs, records show.
—
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead of bold action, English said, European leaders have quarreled over internal divisions and rivalries.
—Gavin J. Quinton
march 10, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
For now, the Jones-Jackson rivalry is defining the early stage of the contest — and signaling that Georgia's next governor's race could be as much about political combat as policy.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is known for its rivalries, but a viral moment between MLB teammates got even spicier after Team USA and Mexico faced off in pool play on Monday night in Houston.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead of bold action, English said, European leaders have quarreled over internal divisions and rivalries.
—Gavin J. Quinton
march 10, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
For now, the Jones-Jackson rivalry is defining the early stage of the contest — and signaling that Georgia's next governor's race could be as much about political combat as policy.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is known for its rivalries, but a viral moment between MLB teammates got even spicier after Team USA and Mexico faced off in pool play on Monday night in Houston.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
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That is to say that the way the current system is set up distorts the healthcare economy in ways that don’t allow for much price competition, with ever-rising insurance premiums as the result.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Several regional nations have recently become key targets in a great power competition between the US and China for greater control of the continent’s resources.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The war inside The game was ultimately decided by the battle inside the paint as TCU’s frontline of Punch and junior center Xavier Edmonds scrapped and clawed with Kansas’ talented big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
-
He was involved in multiple relegation battles and believes having the right mindset is key.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two top City Section baseball teams, El Camino Real and San Fernando, faced off Friday in a pitcher’s duel that went eight innings.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Both teams seem to be settling into a duel between two aces.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The matchup between the two incumbent Republicans highlights a greater struggle of generational change that both parties are facing.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
For many in the middle and lower tiers, simply staying afloat now feels like a struggle.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey on Monday, the second such incident, raising the risk the military alliance could be drawn more directly into the conflict.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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As conflict destabilizes parts of the Middle East, the ripple effects are already reaching the region’s luxury economy, which has become a promising growth engine for a struggling global sector.—
Tara Donaldson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By improving detection capabilities against drone swarms, the technology could strengthen air-defense networks and reduce vulnerabilities created by rapidly evolving drone warfare tactics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
International law governing warfare bars strikes on structures, vehicles and people that are not military objectives and combatants.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts say intelligence sharing would represent a low-risk way for Russia to support Iran while avoiding direct confrontation with the United States, even as Moscow balances in the region.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
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Ideological opposition turned to proxy confrontation through Iran's support for Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, and for Hezbollah, which fought Israel during its long occupation of southern Lebanon.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit calls that contention untrue — Estrada Juarez has never been in removal proceedings and has never seen an immigration judge.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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One topic of contention was the Turlington Homes development approved prior to Clark’s death.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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