rivalries

noun

plural of rivalry
as in battles
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rivalries Week 1 is full of national showdowns and nonregion rivalries. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026 However, in recent years bilateral ties have plunged, marred by frequent tit-for-tat trade tensions and growing geopolitical rivalries. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026 Professional sports have always thrived on heroes, villains, rivalries and grievances. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Rookie rivalries While Wilson is looking forward to his first game in his hometown, most of the league will be tracking how the rookie matches up against the other top talent in the 2026 draft class. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Fighting games are a cross-cultural nexus that spark heated rivalries but ultimately forge lasting connections. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2026 The rivalry dates all the way back to the 1890s, when proximity and hate fueled one of the coolest regional rivalries in the sport. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Yet Germany’s military buildup has stirred anxiety in France, while industrial rivalries have repeatedly frustrated joint projects. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalries
  1. battles
  2. conflicts
  3. struggles
  4. duels
  5. confrontations
  6. competitions
  7. contentions
  8. wars
Noun
  • Tanger centers are places where family and friends can gather, our green spaces play host to everything from yoga classes to food truck rallies to high school battles of the bands.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Once in Korea, O’Hara worked with the Korean stunt team to refine the choreography even further, making battles out of the small-scale struggle of opening a door, of how characters could make it to the glass break outside.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of battles
Noun
  • That definition appears designed to keep participating firms focused on criminal enterprises and out of interstate conflicts.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Most conflicts between humans and bears are traced back to human food, garbage, pet food, bird seed, or other things that attract bears.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflicts
Noun
  • Panettiere’s sudden death sent waves of grief from Hollywood to Ukraine, where the father of their child mourned the beloved actress and activist who battled a host of struggles.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The movie's themes of addiction, redemption and spiritual transformation also prompted Sorbo to discuss his belief that some struggles can involve more than physical or psychological factors.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggles
Noun
  • McBurnie is something of a throwback; a physical target man who relishes gritty duels and aerial battles.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Cherry went 74 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Racing Louisville, recording four defensive clearances and winning three of her four aerial duels as Angel City lost for the first time in four games.
    — Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 31 July 2026
Definition of duels
Noun
  • The February confrontations also transformed the movement’s goals.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • That's where authorities broke up confrontations and made some arrests after supporters from both sides clashed.
    — J.D. Miles, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of confrontations
Noun
  • Now, parents are scrambling to find alternatives while wondering whether their children will be able to train in time for upcoming competitions.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Dutch health ministry’s scheme for international top-sport events funds one-off competitions rather than recurring ones annually, and caps awards at €3 million.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitions
Noun
  • Many healthcare policy analysts disagree with these contentions about fraud, noting partisan politics have now become part of the dissemination of government reports.
    — Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, whose tenure brought team success and three World Series contentions, now faces significant scrutiny over his business practices.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of contentions
Noun
  • Since the wars ended, land mines and unexploded ordnance have killed approximately 90,000 people and wounded almost twice as many across the three countries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders throughout history, such as Julius Caesar and Abraham Lincoln, have taught us plenty of lessons about leadership during turbulent times, including wars, economic downturns, technological disruptions, political instability and social changes.
    — Don Weber, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of wars

Browse Nearby Words

rivaling
rivalries
rivalrous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rivalries

Nglish: Translation of rivalries for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All