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

Junelle announced her official retirement from competitive track and field on WAG World, and shared her newfound goals that she’s discovered since stepping away from the sport after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Semafor reported Wednesday that Musk is exploring ways to grow his spectrum portfolio with an eye on a terrestrial expansion, either via M&A or by competing at next year’s spectrum auction. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for competing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for competing

Adjective

With low consumer demand for electric vehicles (EV) in the US in general and an increasingly competitive market as automakers try to vie for fewer and fewer EV dollars, the Bolt faces a competitive market.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
Trust, financing, developer communities, standards, commercial partnerships, and diplomatic credibility have become competitive advantages in their own right.

— Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitive

Verb

Then the team didn’t make any serious additions at the 2024 deadline even though the Twins were contending for a wild-card spot, a decision that backfired when a club that was 70-53 collapsed, losing 29 of 41 games and missing the playoffs.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
The team figures to be sellers at the deadline and Holmes is certainly someone that a few contending teams would want on their roster.

— Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of contending

Adjective

As the sport continues to process Skubal joining the Dodgers in a late Saturday trade, reactions from rival executives have landed somewhere between resignation and frustration.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
But the federal probe into the Kalshi trading prompted rival online prediction platform Polymarket to cut ties with Santos in June.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of rival

Verb

Knight has spent much of his main roster run accusing Reigns and the Bloodline of using strength in numbers without fighting fair fights.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Last week, two firefighters died fighting a fire on Crete and a third was killed in the Peloponnese.

— Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of fighting

Adjective

In the Van Morrison video, people are shuffling around him, walking directly in front of or around him, some of them appear to be hustling to somewhere more urgent, some of them may be stopping for a brief glance, and then moving on.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
The tech companies without Google’s cash cows will be left in an even weaker spot, which explains why Meta is hustling to launch its own cloud business.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of hustling

Verb

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who announced the deaths to lawmakers in the National Assembly, said the firefighters had been battling a building fire in Mérignac, a suburb of Bordeaux where the city’s airport in located.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
So at minimum, that should lead to a division playoff race with six teams battling for, at most, five spots.

— Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of battling

Browse Nearby Words

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competing

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“Competing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competing. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of competing

adjective

verb

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