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
Like its larger rival, the company makes computer memory, which is used by phones and PCs to store short-term data. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 10 July 2026 The main rivals in its segment include the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and 2027 Kia Telluride. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Adjective
After the medical drama ended, Laurie returned to his comedy roots with a recurring role on Veep, developing a fiercely antagonistic chemistry with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Selina Meyer as her running mate/rival/occasional bedfellow. — Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026 Freedom 250, an organization aligned with the White House, has come to rival America250, a bipartisan group founded by Congress a decade ago. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
And the wait for the bathroom could rival a theater intermission line. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 The last hardware invention from Google, which also remains my favourite, was its 3D Face Unlock that rivalled Apple's Face ID. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 8 July 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 center of Super Typhoon Bavi, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, was passing over Rota, an island of 2,000 people in the Northern Mariana Islands.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • In fact, the ratio is typical of that found on the outer edge of planet-forming discs around young stars, implying 3I/ATLAS formed a long way out from its parent star, perhaps in the equivalent of its Kuiper belt.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of equivalent
Noun
  • Ronaldo’s elbow looked far more intentional, and egregious, than Balogun’s play that happened in the context of a player battling for a ball against an opponent with his foot.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • Other opponents include Planned Parenthood, the California School Boards Assn.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of opponent
Noun
  • Anita Edmondson, a business owner and teacher who previously served on the Poway City Council, was elected to fill the council’s District 2 seat once again in the recent election against competitor Vanessa Springett.
    — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
  • Then check whether your brand gets mentioned, how it's described, whether competitors are included and which sources get cited.
    — Dr. Bin Tang, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of competitor
Adjective
  • For sure, the old philosophy that all athletes with heart conditions should not play competitive sports is outdated and not correct.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • Under owner Arte Moreno, the Angels have resisted rebuilding, preferring to add lower-tier free agents and rush college players to the major leagues in an effort to field a competitive roster.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of competitive
Verb
  • The tension between the various competing interests is handled with nuance and without taking sides, all while showing both the pitfalls and the wondrous potential of this annual spectacle.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • There are two possible, competing ways in which dust can affect the Alfvén waves, which in turn could determine how energy is dumped into the corona, heating it.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of compete
Noun
  • While smaller than its counterparts in Orange County or the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley has a strong Vietnamese community with churches, temples, civic organizations and even a small magazine, Ma said.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • But that belief doesn’t appear to align with reality, as according to recent studies, women may receive significantly less in Social Security benefits than their male counterparts.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 10 July 2026
Definition of counterpart
Noun
  • The millions of mourners at the funeral of the Iranian leader Ayatollah ‌Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, may have put pressure on the regime to show resolve against the nation’s long-standing foes.
    — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • One of the most high-profile and controversial figures in British politics, Farage has had an outsized effect as a champion of leaving the European Union and foe of large-scale immigration.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of foe
Noun
  • Visitors offered name suggestions for Odorysseus on the Huntington’s Instagram page, where contenders included Stinkerbell, Gagatha and Count Flatula, among others.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Her competitive edge sharpened after hearing the news that a nearby state, Nevada, was a top contender for the first slot on the calendar.
    — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

ritzy
rival
rivaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rival for Spanish Speakers

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