COMPETING Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

competing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of competing

as in competitive

having or marked by a strong desire to win or be better than others The competing salespeople were all trying to lure the same customers.

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

competing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of compete

as in contending

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 competing

Adjective

Truth is a public good Politics is not a seminar in absolute clarity, and competing claims are always part of the process. — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2026 Like the Joker, O’Leary tends to give competing origin stories for his nickname. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026

Verb

These days, the streaming services have set their eyes on competing with the likes of TikTok and YouTube. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026 The franchise grew out of Wong, Shih and Yin’s own experiences competing in and observing Asian beauty pageants and talent contests held across North America and Asia. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for competing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for competing

Adjective

Slovan Bratislava With an extra-time win against Celje of Slovenia last month to clinch qualification, Slovan had lost just one competitive game out of 18.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
At least the offense should be fun to watch, which could keep the Jets competitive in games.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of competitive

Verb

The Flames and head coach Jamey Chadwell should be back to contending in Conference USA, led by transfer running backs Kam Davis (Florida State) and Kanye Udoh (Arizona State).

— Justin Williams, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Another group of scholars eventually refuted the claims in 2023, contending the ring had no connection to anyone named Pilate.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of contending

Adjective

The order specifically named ISS and rival Glass Lewis, which the White House said together control more than 90% of the proxy-advisory market.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
Northwestern will seat only 35,000 fans and graduates of rival schools likely will scoff that is all the program, which traditionally does not have a winning football team, can hope to fill.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of rival

Verb

Muslim leaders and community members, in turn, told the USA TODAY Network they’re left fighting to defend their faith and warning the nation that its founding principles are at stake.

— BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
But Verstappen had enough to pull clear in the last few laps and grab third, with the McLaren drivers slowed fighting amongst themselves.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of fighting

Verb

Bangladesh has been racing to halt the outbreak's spread since March, when more than 100 children died in less than a month.

— JULHAS ALAM, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
In the weeks before a premiere at a fall film festival, most directors are racing the clock to finish a final edit or praying to their respective higher powers.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of racing

Adjective

There’s a Santa Claus in a folding chair with a cardboard plank on two milk crates hustling tourists via three card monte.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
That the thirteen-year-old boy soprano from Harlem already knew a thing or two about hustling—that street precocity did not surface in his act.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hustling

Verb

In other places such as Libya and Somalia, Washington supported the national armies and local militias battling jihadi forces and engaged in whack-a-mole with jihadi leaders.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
The ministry said firefighters were battling the fires Tuesday morning.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of battling

Browse Nearby Words

competes

competing

competition

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“Competing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of competing

adjective

verb

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