as in dynamic
having or marked by a strong desire to win or be better than others
The two siblings shared a rivalrous but ultimately loving relationship.
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 rivalrous
The translation into Hindi inevitably fails; instead, two fabulously different, almost rivalrous texts sit next to each other.
—
James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The fan-favorite wrestling drama that paired Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig as rivalrous bros went peering off a cliff less than two months ago before its unceremonious cancellation.
—Starz Turns Heels, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2023
The rivalrous power dynamic between Jones and frontman Jagger is captured in brilliant subtlety in the glances between them during an impromptu interview.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
A little more than a year ago, Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville men’s basketball coach Chris Mack were publicly exchanging rivalrous barbs ahead of the 2020-21 season, a season which saw the Cardinals defeat the Wildcats.
—Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The fan-favorite wrestling drama that paired Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig as rivalrous bros went peering off a cliff less than two months ago before its unceremonious cancellation.
—Starz Turns Heels, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2023
The rivalrous power dynamic between Jones and frontman Jagger is captured in brilliant subtlety in the glances between them during an impromptu interview.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
A little more than a year ago, Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville men’s basketball coach Chris Mack were publicly exchanging rivalrous barbs ahead of the 2020-21 season, a season which saw the Cardinals defeat the Wildcats.
—Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalrous
Adjective
-
Really? Decades ago, at Albertus Magnus College, my class in modern poetry was taught by Sister Norma, a dynamic nun who had written her Ph.D. dissertation on William Butler Yeats.—
Patricia Schultheis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
-
Portable training accounts, which follow workers across jobs, would provide continuity in a dynamic economy.—
Lynn Forester de Rothschild,
Time,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
Yet three years before Enzo joined the competitive fray under his own surname, the Maserati brothers banded together to enter their Tipo 26 in the 1926 Targa Florio endurance test.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
19 May 2025
-
The driver of the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing won the competitive midseason exhibition race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
The other boxers, especially rival LBF, begin to resent Camille for not carrying his weight with the team, driving a wedge between the young champ and best bud Matteo.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
-
Since its inception in 1994, Dar Al Arkan has only delivered about 15,000 units—less than the 16,000 sold by rival firm Retal since it was founded in 2012.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Insects, much like their human counterparts, are more lively in the spring and summer when the weather is warmer.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
20 May 2025
-
Book Club with the Rancho Santa Fe Librarians Wednesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Join us for a lively discussion at the Senior Center of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
And if culture is the battlefield, Abdul Muhammad II is determined to win—not with force, but with wisdom.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
Animal lovers have been left in stitches by a young German shepherd dog who discovered a spot of light on the floor and was determined to get to the bottom of it.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share