as in competing
having or marked by a strong desire to win or be better than others
I am admittedly competitive when it comes to board games.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 competitive
Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Matthew Schaefer tied the rookie defenseman franchise scoring record and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 5-2 on Saturday at UBS Arena, keeping pace in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
—
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
This is going to take years to get competitive again, so book a fourth consecutive 100-loss season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Woods made his return to competitive golf earlier this week in the TGL championship after rupturing his Achilles just before last year's Masters (this year's tournament is in less than two weeks).
—Ryan Morik , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Cameron is completing the rigorous prerequisites to apply to the competitive cardiovascular technology program at Grossmont College while caring for her daughter.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competitive
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
This is going to take years to get competitive again, so book a fourth consecutive 100-loss season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
Woods made his return to competitive golf earlier this week in the TGL championship after rupturing his Achilles just before last year's Masters (this year's tournament is in less than two weeks).
—Ryan Morik , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Cameron is completing the rigorous prerequisites to apply to the competitive cardiovascular technology program at Grossmont College while caring for her daughter.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competitive
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
Adjective
-
Some reviewers are unhappy with slow results — but Hers products are most effective when used consistently for a minimum of three months, and there’s no way of knowing how diligent these reviewers were.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Herzog depicts the bushmen who aid Boyes as dignified, diligent and intelligent without romanticizing them while capturing the rugged beauty of the African landscape.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Here’s how Blum describes the process of turning Schneider into a company able to move at the speed of its energy-hungry customers.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The nod to Star Wars is intentional, and the landscape does seem like a new frontier—representing not just Meta’s stratospheric AI ambitions, but the financial, energy-hungry reality of building the infrastructure that underpins the AI boom.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Brvenik, 44, was diagnosed in 2024 with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Your sense of self takes the lead as the Moon, presently in your sign, opposes aggressive Mars across your partnership zone.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Thousands of skilled and motivated workers are needed, all of whom know the ropes and can pass their knowledge on.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
For Lia Yildiz, a 25-year-old from Poland, Indiana, she was motivated to push back against the billionaire class that influences politicians' decision-making.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Together, the observations present Saturn as a layered and dynamic world.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Brooks Ghost 17 A blend of soft and dynamic cushioning in the midsole, plus forefoot flex grooves, help the Ghost 17 roll smoothly and comfortably for miles.—
Lisa Jhung,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competitive. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
