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
However, real Titans players remember that most of the rivalry and competition on the team came more from the fact that three high schools’ worth of players had been combined into one varsity team.
—
Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries, which helped F1 reach fans in the USA, captured the essence of such rivalries heating up in the background.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
For seasoned players, regular tournaments bring light-hearted rivalry and island camaraderie together.
—AFAR Media, 27 Sep. 2025
The Pointers improved to 5-0 while keeping the rivalry trophy for another year.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries, which helped F1 reach fans in the USA, captured the essence of such rivalries heating up in the background.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
For seasoned players, regular tournaments bring light-hearted rivalry and island camaraderie together.
—AFAR Media, 27 Sep. 2025
The Pointers improved to 5-0 while keeping the rivalry trophy for another year.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
-
In-competition features showcase emerging filmmakers from around the world, there to debut feature, documentary and short films.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since premiering in 2005, Olympic athletes, TV stars, internet personalities and singers have stepped into the ballroom to participate in the ABC reality dance competition show.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For Democrats, the battle marked a defining moment to demonstrate unity after earlier funding fights in which they were accused of caving to Republican demands.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
That was really the battle, less than the gut.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Guardiola was agitated that Van Hecke went to ground inside his own penalty area in a shirt-tugging duel with Erling Haaland.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
One of the weirdest races in their duels was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw them both experience a tough run of luck completely independent from each other.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If anything, the two games at Dodger Stadium showed the struggles of the Reds’ offense, with Blake Snell allowing only two base runners in the first six innings of his Game 1 start, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up two runs in the first inning of Game 2 before retiring 13 straight.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Mendes would later detail his struggles with maintaining his mental health while touring and cancel his Wonder world tour in 2022.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Robert also produced the film, which followed a group of Southern whiskey runners getting into chases and conflicts with federal agents.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Netanyahu has come under increasing pressure from the international community and Trump to end the conflict.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The child has an extraordinary story that takes us straight into the changes reconfiguring Indian Country as a period of warfare rolled into the twentieth century.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
For years, Netanyahu’s approach to warfare was characterized by brief and contained conflicts, especially in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But with American naval forces gathering off Venezuela's coast, fears are intensifying over what this growing show of force could mean for the prisoners — trapped between fragile diplomacy and the prospect of armed confrontation.—
Manuel Rueda,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Satellite imagery, Pentagon releases, and ship tracking reports reveal stealth jets, Marines, and naval vessels poised across Puerto Rico and the eastern Caribbean, raising the specter of escalating tensions that some say could be the opening moves of a broader confrontation.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Still, the level of play Prescott has been at has the Cowboys believing in contention.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The Wild can still be a playoff team despite that because of their strong team defense, but Gustavasson at his best could be what pushes them toward contention.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share