1
as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
a design that is a rival to any produced by a professional graphic artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
the boxer's toughest rival thus far
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competitor
one who strives for the same thing as another
the four cities that are the top rivals for the site of the next Olympic Games
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in competitive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rival
Paresh Dave, Wired News, 6 June 2025
In January 2006, Hamas, Fatah’s preeminent rival, won the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, the PA’s unicameral legislature.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Tomlin has kept churning out winning seasons, potentially at the expense of finding the franchise quarterback that rival teams — teams the Steelers have been so frantically, if futilely, chasing for years —have in abundance.
—Will Graves, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
Italian filmmakers like Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci had a field day with cowboy iconography in the 1960s, churning out a series of violent Westerns that many enthusiasts would say rival or surpass the American Westerns made by the likes of John Ford and Howard Hawks.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rival
Noun
Some of the funding is subject to congressional approval, and a portion could end up going to SpaceX’s rivals.
—Paresh Dave, Wired News, 6 June 2025
In January 2006, Hamas, Fatah’s preeminent rival, won the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, the PA’s unicameral legislature.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
Adjective
On finding partners for EV and battery production House did not address a May 25 report in the Wall Street Journal that cited sources as saying Ford would share production space in its battery plant in Kentucky with rival Nissan.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Tomlin has kept churning out winning seasons, potentially at the expense of finding the franchise quarterback that rival teams — teams the Steelers have been so frantically, if futilely, chasing for years —have in abundance.
—Will Graves, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Verb
Coastal Mississippi is constantly surprising us, but one of its most delightful surprises is the fact that some of its beaches have white sand that rivals even Florida’s top spots.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
Italian filmmakers like Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci had a field day with cowboy iconography in the 1960s, churning out a series of violent Westerns that many enthusiasts would say rival or surpass the American Westerns made by the likes of John Ford and Howard Hawks.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
Noun
-
His main opponent, former radio host Bill Spadea, has painted himself as a Trump loyalist.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
-
The Padres threaded the needle between letting the game come to them and taking it to their opponent in yesterday’s seventh inning.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Hernandez beat out all other competitors in the triple jump, though the runner-up was also awarded 1st place under new rules established by the California Interscholastic Federation after Trump issued his threats.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
-
Its temperature control falls behind its most direct competitor, the Asus TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB, in both configurations.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Employers Prioritize Their Own Goals Employers are under immense pressure to drive growth, shareholder value, innovate, navigate volatility, and survive in highly competitive landscapes.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
That’s great for them but ruinous for competitive balance at home; since the turn of the millennium, Lincoln have failed to win Gibraltar’s top league only twice.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Location of the 32 clubs competing in the 2025 Club World Cup and the 20 countries represented at the tournament Showing a low-resolution version of the map.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
Tha Carter revealed a new artist—one who could make hits and compete lyrically with not just his labelmates, but hip-hop’s elite, like his idol Jay-Z. C1 has been largely eclipsed in the public imagination by its Carter successors, but remains the most upbeat and bouncy of the series.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The shop's baklava looks drier and more structured than the other Antep counterpart.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
7 June 2025
-
And while not everything at Costco is a deal, certain foods consistently offer better value than their grocery store counterparts.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Eventually, even the foes of the tolling will realize that Prof. Vickrey was correct and that everyone is better off.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
-
The Spartans swept all three foes by 7-0 scores to become the first school in league history to win four consecutive state tennis crowns.—
Dave Wright,
Twin Cities,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Now that Edmonton’s non-superstars are finally winning their minutes, the Oilers are a contender.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
-
The Champions League is the ultimate barometer of the continent’s elite clubs and up until now PSG has been a flashy contender that always came up short.—
James Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sports are not just about competing but also relations.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
Leaders from both nations face mounting public pressure to show strength and seek revenge, and the heated rhetoric and competing claims could be a response to that pressure.—
Sheikh Saaliq,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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