COMPETITION Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən

Definition of competition

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

Relevance

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

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 Some scientists think the species was in terminal decline long before human hunting and competition from dingos pushed them out of mainland Australia. — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026 Pricing, value and competition The Lexus RZ starts at just over $42,000 before taxes and additional fees, which seems modest for a larger crossover SUV in light of most modern new car prices. — Keith Laing, USA Today, 10 July 2026 That gap between convenience and confidence is where the next decade of brand competition will play out. — Firdosh Tangri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The entire competition now has the unmistakable stench of corruption all over it. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition

Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition

Noun

But England knocked Norway out of the tournament after a dramatic 2-1 victory.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Talks were put on hold during the World Cup, with his focus on delivering for Senegal at this summer’s tournament.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of tournament

Noun

The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island in New York on July 4, where contestants ate several days' worth of calories in just 10 minutes.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The reality star — who was briefly engaged to the winner of his season, Hannah Ann Sluss, and dated his fifth place contestant, Kelley Flanagan, on and off for years — addressed the book for the first time on Monday.

— Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

Definition of contestant

Noun

The TikTok edits, the outfit identification threads, the contestant rivalries trending on X by the end of an episode, all of it turns 60 minutes of passive viewing into a multi-platform conversation that runs all week.

— Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Rattín’s defiant gesture at Wembley also marked the beginning of the football rivalry between Argentina and England.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

In the wake of Argentina’s 2-1 win over England in Wednesday’s semifinal match, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution picked several hometown winners of the biggest sporting event to hit the city since 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.

— Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
Last Month, Wilson endorsed Gilbert in an event that included a ceremonial passing of the torch.

— Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of event

Noun

All while the other competitor in the arena, Matt Kuchar, stood and waited, with the biggest round of his life on the line.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
With ruthless competitors who will stop at nothing to dethrone and destroy them, the Whitlocks are a blue-collar dynasty at the edge of extinction – and the old king is fighting to hold onto the crown.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 July 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
There have been naval battles and beheadings and aerial battles and, well, more beheadings.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Haiti became the first team in FIFA history to qualify without having played one game at home due to gangs’ takeover of its national stadium and the violence in Port-au-Prince.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
More than an intricate game of cat-and-mouse, the crime drama plays on the tensions between nature and nurture while unpacking the dangers and vulnerabilities that come with loving other people.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026

Definition of game

Noun

Visitors offered name suggestions for Odorysseus on the Huntington’s Instagram page, where contenders included Stinkerbell, Gagatha and Count Flatula, among others.

— Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Her competitive edge sharpened after hearing the news that a nearby state, Nevada, was a top contender for the first slot on the calendar.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing

competition

competitions

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Style

“Competition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competition. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of competition

noun

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