rival 1 of 3

noun

ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce rival (audio)
Definition of rivalnext
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

rival

2 of 3

adjective

as in competitive

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

rival

3 of 3

verb

as in to compete
to engage in a contest two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives

Synonyms & Similar 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
Noun
The Ram ProMaster 2500 is easier to load than rivals because the cargo floor sits closer to the ground. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 In reality, the program was too small and restrictive to compete with a growing crop of rivals that had larger tax breaks and fewer restrictions. — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Other tech firms have released rival video-generating technology in recent months, including another short video app owner Kuaishuo, tech giant Alibaba and AI firm MiniMax. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 If an airline fails to offer a viable alternative within three hours of a cancellation, passengers can book their own ticket on a rival airline, train, or bus and claim reimbursement up to 400% of their original fare. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
This dessert easily rivals that cheesecake, for both beauty and texture. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 At the time, the rapper was signed to Knight's Death Row Records, which was associated with the Bloods gang, while Davis was a leader of the rivaling South Side Crips. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
  1. equivalent
  2. opponent
  3. competitor
  4. competitive
  5. compete
  6. counterpart
  7. foe
  8. contender
Noun
  • The states, the WGA and Paramount later entered a stipulation to delay the merger — the functional equivalent of a preliminary injunction — which did not include any bond requirement.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • For services businesses, the equivalent is software subscriptions and vendor contracts that renewed automatically last year and will renew again this year unless someone actually looks.
    — Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Noun
  • Only Middlesbrough made their regains higher upfield, on average, and Coventry caught opponents offside 136 times last campaign — the most since Barnsley (144) and Bournemouth (143) four seasons ago.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Schedule Outlook The path to another major leap in 2026 is there for FIU, but the Panthers will have to navigate a schedule that features several competent Conference USA opponents.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of opponent
Noun
  • Last year, Chinese firms accounted for the vast majority of global android deliveries, far outpacing American competitors like Tesla, Figure AI and Boston Dynamics.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The pharmaceutical giant has sought out new avenues of success with cancer-treatment drugs and to catch up with its competitors, which have dominated the market for weight-loss medications.
    — Sam Jacobs, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitor
Adjective
  • Johnson County, with Iowa City and its teeming suburbs, and Scott County's economically diverse cities of Davenport and Bettendorf help make the district among the most competitive in the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Paramount has insisted that the WBD deal is pro-competitive, and has asserted that the deal’s opponents are driven by political concerns, including the prospect of CNN changing hands.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitive
Verb
  • Florida voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a primary election that will determine the head-to-head matchups in November, including the candidates who will compete to become the state's next governor.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • New York has a nice blend of skill and compete in a system that should produce reliable NHL talent but still has a lot of work ahead in this next rebuild.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of compete
Noun
  • These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Just like their younger counterparts, midlife women are also dealing with fellow singles who don’t want to commit.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of counterpart
Noun
  • Yet the answers remain evasive enough that Golden State coach Natalie Nakase charges herself with the blame for not yet finding new answers for this foe.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The raucous home environment at Doak on a Monday night is often tough for road foes to overcome.
    — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of foe
Noun
  • The Wildcats have fallen from annual championship contenders to regular first-round playoff exits.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The trio gives Fort Worth-area football fans what should be a trio of contenders and a ton of high-stakes playoff matchups within a reasonable distance.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

ritzy
rival
rivaled
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Cite this Entry

“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rival for Spanish Speakers

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