competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən How to pronounce competition (audio)
Definition of competitionnext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a competition between two fierce football rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in contestant
one who strives for the same thing as another tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 competition There’s also concern that AI’s demand for these minerals put it in direct competition with sectors that are critical for reducing planet heating pollution, namely wind and solar energy. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 The playbook for any industry facing that kind of competition is not new. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Back then, Baier faced stiff competition within the network from straight-news anchors like Chris Wallace and Shepard Smith. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026 The school is in the top 10 for the western division of the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition. — Laura Phillips, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition
  1. tournament
  2. contestant
  3. rivalry
  4. event
  5. competitor
  6. battle
  7. game
  8. contender
Noun
  • Paige, who used to play in professional tournaments, pushes the putt only to be one-upped by her partner who pulls her putt to the left.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The combined company also has rights to professional golf, including the Masters tournament; National Hockey League; Major League Baseball and NCAA basketball, including March Madness, as well as European rights to televise the Olympics.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • While traditional family recipes and regional specialities are at the heart of the competition, contestants are pushed outside their comfort zones through challenges inspired by fine dining, street food and international cuisines.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • On the other side of that, there can be some negative talk too, some frustrated fans who think other contestants should still be there.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • The alleged rivalry between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle was seemingly dying down—but then Meghan and Prince Harry moved back to the UK.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The group will confront old tensions and determine if these chapters can finally be closed, or if some rivalries are simply too deep to leave in the past.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • YouTube Europe boss Pedro Pina, a fixture at these events, reminded producers that the platform won’t take work away from them by entering the production game.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Her cousin, played by Azam Quadri, turns up without warning after 15 years away, and his visit brings back the events that once split the family.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • If Skydance increases spending on content, that could push its competitors to also invest more, Laurent Yoon, senior analyst at the research and brokerage firm Bernstein, told me.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Headquartered just outside Paris, the 128-year-old French giant is using this platform to prove that traditional European brands can out-innovate the incoming tide of Asian competitors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • In yet another battle between the states and social media platforms, Florida asked a state judge to order changes on Instagram and Facebook in an effort to protect young users.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Hollister was also engaged in a lengthy courtroom battle with Perry and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the rights to another property, a Los Feliz convent the singer hoped to turn into a private home.
    — Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • YouTube Europe boss Pedro Pina, a fixture at these events, reminded producers that the platform won’t take work away from them by entering the production game.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Peacock streaming platform shares its weekly exclusive games on YouTube.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • Trezavant Boyd and James Perrone are both contenders for the Nat Moore Trophy, an award recognizing South Florida's top high school football player.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Fest director Susan Koch is landing more and more top Oscar contenders and talent every year, as well as Oscar pundits to cover them.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing
competition
competitions
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Cite this Entry

“Competition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competition. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on competition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about competition

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