Thesaurus results for COMPETE

compete

verb

kəm-ˈpēt

Definition of compete

as in to contend

to engage in a contest prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 compete Florida voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a primary election that will determine the head-to-head matchups in November, including the candidates who will compete to become the state's next governor. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 New York has a nice blend of skill and compete in a system that should produce reliable NHL talent but still has a lot of work ahead in this next rebuild. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, the Guard is juggling competing demands, with thousands of troops deployed to the Middle East amid the war with Iran and others serving on missions around the world. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compete

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compete

Verb

Conservationists and some state officials contend the move is a pretext for commercial development that will harm wildlife habitats and water quality.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Anthony’s attorneys contend those comments have created the appearance that Roach prejudged the defense’s claims.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of contend

Verb

In this dawning age of artificial intelligence, tech companies are racing to train and run their large language models using massive data centers that guzzle electricity and strain resources.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
As the ball entered the 6-yard box, LAFC’s Jeremy Ebobisse raced across and attempted a clearance.

— Daily News, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of race

Verb

That’s exactly what happened with money market funds, another savings instrument that the banks fought using questionable arguments, only to be proven wrong.

— Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
The team comes up with scenarios in which Emi fights a mech or battles yakuza in the clouds, and the fights defy expectations.

— Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

Some 400 firefighters have been battling the blaze, aided by helicopters flying overnight, officials said, but high winds had complicated efforts to contain it.

— Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Is Joe Biden’s wayward son trying to land a lucrative podcast deal or taking one last stand to clear his name as his father battles cancer?

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Browse Nearby Words

compensations

compete

competed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compete. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of compete

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on compete

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes