variants
or rivalled
as in competed
to engage in a contest
two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivaled
The grandeur of fantasy at our fingertips, Mario’s essence blown up to galactic proportions, has yet to be rivaled.
—
Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
On May 2, its number of flight cancellations rivaled that of the dying Spirit Airlines.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
Its growth was rivaled by Getty Images, which strove to remain in competition with Corbis.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
Stretching up to 62 feet long, the ancient predator dwarfed modern giant squid and may have rivaled some of the most formidable hunters of the Cretaceous oceans.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
But the 2021 and 2022 seasons inform how the Rams have come to operate in the four years since, with the desire to win rivaled only by the refusal to experience such a hangover again.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
It's only rivaled by the tax code in complexity.
—Ted Koppel, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
The Filipino girl group, comprising Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena, became the first band from the Philippines to perform at the music festival — and the Pinoy pride shone back at them, with a packed crowd whose exuberance rivaled the energy exuding from BINI onstage.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
The canopied king bed is rivaled by a walk-in wardrobe that would be right at home in the Gilded Age.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 9 May 2026
On May 2, its number of flight cancellations rivaled that of the dying Spirit Airlines.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
Its growth was rivaled by Getty Images, which strove to remain in competition with Corbis.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
Stretching up to 62 feet long, the ancient predator dwarfed modern giant squid and may have rivaled some of the most formidable hunters of the Cretaceous oceans.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
But the 2021 and 2022 seasons inform how the Rams have come to operate in the four years since, with the desire to win rivaled only by the refusal to experience such a hangover again.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
It's only rivaled by the tax code in complexity.
—Ted Koppel, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
The Filipino girl group, comprising Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena, became the first band from the Philippines to perform at the music festival — and the Pinoy pride shone back at them, with a packed crowd whose exuberance rivaled the energy exuding from BINI onstage.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
The canopied king bed is rivaled by a walk-in wardrobe that would be right at home in the Gilded Age.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivaled
Verb
-
This 500-level event drew a smattering of US and Australia players, but was mostly competed by the core Asia contingent of pros and featured a slew of upsets and surprises along the way.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The actor explained that number was a reference to the amount of female directors who had competed at Cannes up until that point in the festival’s history, compared to the 1,866 male directors over the same period.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Its leaders have repeatedly contended that their resistance to occupation is protected under international law and the Lebanese constitution, if not under the new domestic policy.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
-
That so many exceptional shots came from Rai, a 31-year-old who had never so much as contended in a major, is irrelevant.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Lee became the first Giants hitter to be credited with one against the Dodgers since 1981, when Larry Herndon raced around the bases against Fernando Valenzuela at Candlestick Park.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The sound was moving, and Larry raced for our plane and turned on the emergency transmitter.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivaled. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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