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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rival
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Biden had been relatively quiet since leaving the presidency, waiting several months into his rival’s second term to comment on the state of affairs in the country.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
New Atlas, 10 Nov. 2025
The circumstances, though, that left Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams at the rival orbital outpost were much different.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Peter Bart, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
According to recent data, Waymo’s market share now rivals that of Lyft.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rival
Noun
Following Top Gear‘s original cancellation, Willson joined Channel Five’s rival show Fifth Gear as a presenter until 2005, going on to create Britain’s Worst Driver for the network.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Biden had been relatively quiet since leaving the presidency, waiting several months into his rival’s second term to comment on the state of affairs in the country.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
In its four-legged form, the robot looks and performs much like previous offerings from rival companies such as Swiss Mile.
—New Atlas, 10 Nov. 2025
The circumstances, though, that left Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams at the rival orbital outpost were much different.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Scorsese’s productivity rivals that of a Frank Capra who, a generation earlier, directed some 40 films under his healthy deal with Columbia Pictures.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
According to recent data, Waymo’s market share now rivals that of Lyft.
—Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
Noun
-
Canada’s Remembrance Day equivalent is Armistice Day, also November 11.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Goldman Sachs estimates that AI automation could affect the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs worldwide.—
Jane Sadowsky,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
New Delhi’s support enabled Hasina to undermine democratic institutions, politicize the judiciary and Election Commission, and enforce repressive laws such as the Digital Security Act, which limited free speech online and allowed arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents of the regime.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Only Atlanta, Milwaukee, Dallas and Miami have bigger negative differentials between their offensive rebounding percentage and their opponents’.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Paramount has been bidding since October for WBD, a transaction that would elevate David Ellison’s nascent media empire into a Hollywood force that could not be easily ignored by tech competitors and Wall Street.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Much like Blue Origin’s chief competitor, SpaceX — which has long been a dominant force in the commercial launch business — Blue Origin rockets are designed to be partially reused in order to drive down costs.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the random bunch of misfits Courteney will have to transform into a team competitive enough to make it to nationals, and that will surely start to form one big family along the way.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The two bonded over their mutual love for Atlanta and its vibrant culture before Trae and Quavo faced off in a friendly yet competitive game of HORSE on the basketball court.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
It is measured in the millions of students striving for opportunity—most of them raising children, working jobs, serving in uniform, or making rent and mortgage payments with other bills competing for their attention.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Co-Production Market will feature 22 feature films and five documentaries competing for $20,000 in cash grants.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Experts say many multinational firms are adopting dual leadership models, where global business unit heads in India co-own strategy and product outcomes with their counterparts at headquarters.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Specifically, supernovae derived from younger stellar populations appear fainter, while their older counterparts appear brighter.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Friday marked the All-NBA guard’s first chance to pour it on an inferior foe.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Start the man who has thrown more touchdowns against the Dolphins than his other AFC East foes combined.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, this team bullied one of the top NFC playoff contenders from start to finish.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Even with expectations for this season always low (even by Browns post-1999 standards), does anyone watching think this team is anywhere close to becoming a contender — even with a pair of potential top-15 picks in the 2026 draft?—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share