1
as in equivalent
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
a design that is a rival to any produced by a professional graphic artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
the boxer's toughest rival thus far
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competitor
one who strives for the same thing as another
the four cities that are the top rivals for the site of the next Olympic Games
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in competitive
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rival
Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
In response to the news of Richards’ endorsement of her rival, Ravi Sahai, Valdez’s campaign manager, emphasized the importance of ground outreach and said about 150 volunteers were slated to canvass for Valdez’s field launch on Saturday.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The show, based on the Rachel Reid novel series, follows two rival hockey players who have animosity on the ice rink but share a secret romance behind closed doors.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Noun
Despite that, classifieds rival Dubizzle pulled its IPO last year after its prospectus revealed four years of losses.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
In response to the news of Richards’ endorsement of her rival, Ravi Sahai, Valdez’s campaign manager, emphasized the importance of ground outreach and said about 150 volunteers were slated to canvass for Valdez’s field launch on Saturday.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
As repression intensifies and rival factions maneuver, her ability to convert public support into political authority remains uncertain.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
The show, based on the Rachel Reid novel series, follows two rival hockey players who have animosity on the ice rink but share a secret romance behind closed doors.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
From South America to the American West, travelers are embarking on wildlife spotting excursions that would rival any in Sub-Saharan Africa.
—Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
Noun
-
The Texas high school football equivalent to the opening bell on Wall Street takes place Monday.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
As for Short’s killer, Mann sifts through the evidence against the many suspects who have been surfaced over the decades, including Leslie Dillon, who would sue the city for the equivalent of millions of dollars today.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Emmer has been a staunch opponent of Walz for some time, whose antagonism for the governor heightened once Walz became the vice presidential running mate to former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Garrett faced multiple opponents on 90 percent of his pass rushing snaps prior to Week 18, per PFF.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Chinese competitors like DeepSeek have demonstrated that technical capabilities can be matched quickly.—
Steven Wolfe Pereira,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
What denied her entry to the Milan-Cortina Olympics was her final qualification event in the North American Cup earlier this month at Lake Placid, where several Canadian competitors were withdrawn at the last minute.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Chicago Blackhawks saw a competitive first period turn into a horrendous second in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Saleh learned that’s just the competitive fire Daboll operates with — especially on game day.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Much of the movie's story revolves around Marty's chaotic efforts to make enough money to travel to Japan and compete in a tournament there.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Associated Press reported that the grim discovery underscores the tactics used by criminal groups competing for control of territory and trafficking routes, especially along the country’s coastline.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure shrugged off gyrations in the yen after chairing a meeting of his Group of Seven counterparts.—
William Horobin,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The weekly drug is a predecessor to the company's top-selling obesity drug Zepbound and diabetes counterpart Mounjaro.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Infiniti plays Willa in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, a girl whose revolutionary parents (DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor) face off against military foes.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, BlackRock executive Rick Rieder, Fed governor Christopher Waller, and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett are among the top contenders for the position.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The aforementioned labels, as well as a few heritage trainer brands, already have strong contenders on the market, including Adidas’s laceless Taekwondo style, which offers an especially chic way to exaggerate the profile.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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