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.
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Dissimilar Words
as in contending
to engage in a contest
prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competing
Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Pope Leo’s emphasis on respect and dialogue suggests a desire to move beyond polarization, but competing interpretations of both doctrine and pastoral practice continue to divide American Catholics.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Even making a slightly lower offer may be more viable when sellers know there are fewer competing bids.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
The Department intends to stop funding both 2025 new awards and non-competing continuations for these seven grant programs.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adversaries appear as competing bids, regulatory hurdles or stakeholders with diverging agendas.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus return to defend their titles, along with American tennis stars Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and more competing.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025
With pickup truck prices ever increasing—the F-150 starts at nearly $40,000—and competitors like Slate Auto offering simpler competing vehicles for lower prices, that’s meaningful.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Everybody's always looking, curious, competing and that's a really difficult thing, especially for a female actor.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Five pitchers — Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie and Matt Waldron — are competing for starting jobs this spring.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The nascent contest already has drawn out a tangle of competing interests, with millions of dollars flowing into political committees.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
How will a fan base used to competing for national championships handle 8-4 seasons that end in a bowl trip to a baseball stadium in Phoenix?
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
That was not the case this month, when the International Olympic Committee disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in the 2026 Olympic Games.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
The spy operation didn't scare Liu off from competing in Beijing.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Bowing to popular demand, Fennell’s lackluster film doesn’t really bother with the stylistic flourishes of the source — this is really just the Cathy and Heathcliffe show, two awful people competing to destroy each other and threatening to take us to hell with them into the bargain.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Rodríguez represents just one of multiple and competing interests within a Venezuela elite composed of a precarious civil-military alliance officially committed to a leftist populist ideology called Chavismo.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Pope Leo’s emphasis on respect and dialogue suggests a desire to move beyond polarization, but competing interpretations of both doctrine and pastoral practice continue to divide American Catholics.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Even making a slightly lower offer may be more viable when sellers know there are fewer competing bids.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
The Department intends to stop funding both 2025 new awards and non-competing continuations for these seven grant programs.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adversaries appear as competing bids, regulatory hurdles or stakeholders with diverging agendas.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus return to defend their titles, along with American tennis stars Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and more competing.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025
With pickup truck prices ever increasing—the F-150 starts at nearly $40,000—and competitors like Slate Auto offering simpler competing vehicles for lower prices, that’s meaningful.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Everybody's always looking, curious, competing and that's a really difficult thing, especially for a female actor.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
Three incumbents and one challenger are competing for three open seats on the board of commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, a low-profile but surprisingly big and important special purpose government agency serving Cook County.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags.
—Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Five pitchers — Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie and Matt Waldron — are competing for starting jobs this spring.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The nascent contest already has drawn out a tangle of competing interests, with millions of dollars flowing into political committees.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
How will a fan base used to competing for national championships handle 8-4 seasons that end in a bowl trip to a baseball stadium in Phoenix?
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
That was not the case this month, when the International Olympic Committee disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in the 2026 Olympic Games.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026
The spy operation didn't scare Liu off from competing in Beijing.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Bowing to popular demand, Fennell’s lackluster film doesn’t really bother with the stylistic flourishes of the source — this is really just the Cathy and Heathcliffe show, two awful people competing to destroy each other and threatening to take us to hell with them into the bargain.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competing
Adjective
-
The presence of Messi — who won most valuable player awards in consecutive seasons and the Golden Boot last year — remains the focus of media and competitive attention for the club.—
Jad El Reda
Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
These numbers are among several that suggest that Kansas City, which this month was chosen to be the base camp for three of the cup’s most competitive teams — Argentina, England and the Netherlands — may be in desperate need of more short-term rental hosts as game days near.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the up and down, fluctuating tariffs around the world spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of struggling to get off the ground, the Lawrenceville school’s basketball teams are contending for first place and aspiring for a shot to reach the national tournament.—
Stan Awtrey,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In 1692, the powerful McDonald clan of the region hosted the rival Campbell clan for a fortnight of what the hosts thought would be hospitality intended to thaw the frosty relations between the clans.—
Patti Nickell,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Friday night surprise sent plenty of talent reps at rival firms pouring over Wasserman’s imprints to look for opportunities.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In 2017, the 48-year-old former boxing champion retired from professional prize fighting undefeated at 50-0.—
Matt Schubert,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Being positive, for me, means fighting against suffering and anger.—
Gaby Wood,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the small lineup has helped with spacing, creating more driving lanes for Dent while also allowing Bilodeau to beat more plodding counterparts on offense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Bring along a non-driving guest to enjoy the hotel part of the program for $350.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dual moguls sees two skiers racing side by side down the course featuring two jumps and fields of bumps, known as moguls.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Truthfully, racing in the rain was entertaining.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The ’90s were a time of creative expansion for her, but financial hustling.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The vignettes of heartbreak and hustling come with absurdist wit and an outstanding selection of beats.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Waldron, who is battling for the one or two available rotation spots, allowed a hit, walked a batter and struck out two.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Tayton Conerway had 12 points and seven assists, while Tucker DeVries added 11 points on a night Indiana’s offense never got in sync and whose post players struggled against the Boilermakers size, all while battling foul trouble.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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