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
While spending several thousand dollars on a Scotch was not unheard of, this was the first time an American whiskey company offered a rare blend that rivaled other spirits from around the world.
—
Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
LeBron James’ latest absence for the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 21-year streak that might not be rivaled in NBA history.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
In a career that saw 93 wins and four championships before retiring as a full-time competitor after the 2015 season, much of it was spent in an era where NASCAR’s popularity was at its zenith with television ratings that at times rivaled the NFL and many races with attendance exceeding six figures.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
And her passion for mentoring girls is only rivaled by her humility.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Cinemas had been flooded with spy movies by this point; even the Bond spoof Casino Royale, released the same year, rivaled the real 007 film's popularity.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
When many drummers felt intimidated by the waves of digital technology, Dunbar embraced the changes and was one of the few whose programming skills rivaled his live performance capability.
—Prof. Mike Alleyne Ph.d, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mirage is a decent small car that at the time was inexpensive and the miles per gallon rivaled a hybrid due to its three-cylinder engine.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
LeBron James’ latest absence for the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 21-year streak that might not be rivaled in NBA history.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
In a career that saw 93 wins and four championships before retiring as a full-time competitor after the 2015 season, much of it was spent in an era where NASCAR’s popularity was at its zenith with television ratings that at times rivaled the NFL and many races with attendance exceeding six figures.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
And her passion for mentoring girls is only rivaled by her humility.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Cinemas had been flooded with spy movies by this point; even the Bond spoof Casino Royale, released the same year, rivaled the real 007 film's popularity.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
When many drummers felt intimidated by the waves of digital technology, Dunbar embraced the changes and was one of the few whose programming skills rivaled his live performance capability.
—Prof. Mike Alleyne Ph.d, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mirage is a decent small car that at the time was inexpensive and the miles per gallon rivaled a hybrid due to its three-cylinder engine.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivaled
Verb
-
Singapore has only competed in one previous Winter Games, the 2018 edition, where short-track speedskater Cheyenne Goh finished 28th in the women’s 1,500 meters.—
Lee Ying Shan,Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the strongest aspect of the project by far is the personal stories of the women who actually competed to become America’s next top model, including Sullivan.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Kyle McNabb, however, contended in police documents that the internal temperature of such a vehicle could have climbed above 140 degrees.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Furnell’s team raced on the track at the Cortina Sliding Centre during the International Bobsleigh Federation’s World Cup in November and finished seventh out of 31 teams.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Their lungs raced while their quads screamed.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivaled. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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