rivaled

verb

variants or rivalled
past tense of rival
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

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 rivaled Julius Murga has deep roots in Wrigleyville, but his dedication to Sports World Chicago is rivaled only by Ganal. — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Wherever the water stands in pools, and by the edges of the lakes and bayous, the giant cypress loom aloft, rivaled in size by some of the red gums and white oaks. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Its laid-back, welcoming atmosphere is rivaled only by its creative beer options, such as the Cryptic Kolsch crisp, a traditional German brew, and the White Ghost Hefe, a Bavarian-style wheat beer. — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 In the late 1990s, the property was owned by Bruce Bastian, a co-founder of WordPerfect, the word-processing software that once rivaled Microsoft Word. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026 It is rivaled only by the 11S Pro smartphone, which scored 27,191. — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 The glossy black pearls were buttery, briny, and savory, with a subtle mineral finish that rivaled pricier options. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026 The wine was flowing, the windows were kept open, and the bright colors of the table were rivaled only by the rainbow of seasonal vegetables and ruby-red Campari spritzes. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 24 July 2026 After spending a day exploring, a soak in your private hot tub is rivaled only by sinking into a plush pillow-top mattress covered in buttery-soft Comphy sheets. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivaled
  1. competed
  2. contended
  3. raced
Verb
  • Later on, the rise of more democratically responsive governments in the region would likely cause considerable headaches as ambitious politicians competed to condemn and denounce the United States.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tame Impala Is Already a Grammy Winner While Jennie would be a brand-new Grammy nominee, Tame Impala has not only competed before, but won.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of competed
Verb
  • The year 1933, Arendt contended, marked the close of the age of bourgeois emancipation and Jewish liberation, which brought an end to a feeling of security in the West and signaled that the new sense of security in the East was a pipe dream.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The union’s original grievance, the city contended, only challenged Biscari’s suspension pending resolution of his criminal case — not the underlying disciplinary action for the crash itself.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of contended
Verb
  • And Ian Happ raced around from first to score on the throwing error, giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Tara Rudd drove toward Angel City’s back line and threaded a pass through to Rodman, who raced downfield and curled a shot just over goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of raced

Browse Nearby Words

rival
rivaled
rivaling
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Cite this Entry

“Rivaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivaled. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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