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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rival
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Polymarket’s chief rival Kalshi also minted billion-dollar fortunes for its founders shortly after when the company raised $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation in December.
—
Alicia Park,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Hamidreza Azizi,
Time,
19 June 2026
Defense attorneys at trial Wednesday in the K Street mass shooting case argued that personal disputes, rather than ongoing bad blood between rival Sacramento street gangs, triggered the April 2022 massacre that killed six people and wounded 13 others.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
For their size, the voltages produced inside cells can rival that of a lightning bolt, and every day of activity results in a lot of molecular damage and waste products.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Noun
It was not designed to out-turn its rivals or evade radar.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Polymarket’s chief rival Kalshi also minted billion-dollar fortunes for its founders shortly after when the company raised $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation in December.
—
Alicia Park,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
Adjective
Advertisement Yet the initial agreement is also broad to the point of ambiguity, open to rival readings, and engineered so that nearly every decisive question is deferred into the 60-day window.
—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Time,
19 June 2026
Defense attorneys at trial Wednesday in the K Street mass shooting case argued that personal disputes, rather than ongoing bad blood between rival Sacramento street gangs, triggered the April 2022 massacre that killed six people and wounded 13 others.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
Once the floats started their passage from the southern tip of Manhattan up to City Hall, those lucky revellers who’d guaranteed themselves a spot put on their own show, one that rivalled the on-court exploits of the Knicks.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
For their size, the voltages produced inside cells can rival that of a lightning bolt, and every day of activity results in a lot of molecular damage and waste products.
—
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
Noun
-
Thursday’s election, the equivalent of a US special election, was triggered to pave Burnham’s route to Downing Street.
-
The knockout match this time around is the equivalent of a second-round NCAA Tournament basketball game.
Noun
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That puts those Lawler-supporting Democrats in the unique position of helping choose his next opponent by voting in the June 23 primary.
-
Instead, Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room made an incredible 15 saves and Ecuador walked away with a humbling result against an opponent it was heavily favored to beat.
Noun
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Turning to larger athletic shoe players, prospects are mixed as smaller competitors inch ahead.
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While art remains the primary business for Sotheby’s and its competitors, sports memorabilia and other collectibles have quickly become important categories as the major houses work to broaden their collector bases.
Adjective
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For the couple, Fan Fest provided the perfect competitive backdrop.
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Any of those teams would give him an opportunity to contribute in a role in a competitive context right away.
Verb
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Roy, a deputy state attorney general, finished first in the city attorney primary by a wide margin and will compete against John McKinney, a deputy district attorney, in the runoff.
-
Three centuries later, the librarians of Alexandria took charge of the text, collating competing versions, marking doubtful lines, imposing a measure of order on the teeming verses.
Noun
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Until the middle of the 20th century, factices were often crafted by luxury glassmakers including Baccarat and Lalique to be exact replicas of their regular-sized counterparts, filled with colored water or alcohol to mimic the look of actual perfume.
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Tough loner Daryl, who has no counterpart in the Walking Dead comic books, arguably became the original’s show biggest breakout character before getting his own story.
Noun
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The two battled, with the Sea Snake about to make the kill after stabbing his foe in the thigh.
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The South American roster of Leviatán took down Global Esports and NRG in the Swiss Stage to advance to the playoff bracket, but were then met with a formidable foe in the shape of Paper Rex.
Noun
-
Anthony Elanga puts up a contender for the goal of the tournament with a rocket from the corner of the box into the left side of the net to bring this one back even at one goal apiece in the 62nd minute.
-
Matthew Brewer, previously the CHA’s interim CEO and board chair, declared his candidacy in the 2027 mayoral race, the latest addition to a widening pool of contenders.
Cite this Entry
“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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