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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
This Trump Doctrine emphasizes using American power aggressively — more aggressively than Trump’s immediate predecessors — to reshape key relationships and accrue U.S. advantage in a rivalrous world.
—
Hal Brands, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
The sisters were long involved in a rivalrous feud.
—Lydia Price, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In Trump’s first term, that insight helped the United States begin a messy adjustment to the realities of a rivalrous age.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Ricardo divided society into three rivalrous classes—landlords, capitalists, and workers—and showed how the landlords were able to take the lion’s share of the economic surplus by virtue of owning, and charging rent on, a scarce and valuable resource: land.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
Hal Brands, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
The sisters were long involved in a rivalrous feud.
—Lydia Price, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In Trump’s first term, that insight helped the United States begin a messy adjustment to the realities of a rivalrous age.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Ricardo divided society into three rivalrous classes—landlords, capitalists, and workers—and showed how the landlords were able to take the lion’s share of the economic surplus by virtue of owning, and charging rent on, a scarce and valuable resource: land.
—John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalrous
Adjective
-
The 2019 Kennedy Center honoree, a protege of the late Leonard Bernstein, was a gifted pianist known for his exuberant compositions and ability to break down musical genres, and in particular, his dynamic interpretations of Gustav Mahler.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Nowhere is that dynamic more legible than in the figure of podcaster Theo Von.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Republicans punching above their weight Republican candidates, meanwhile, are remaining competitive despite far lower spending.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That said, Chelsea did remain competitive and relatively organised, certainly more so than in many of the other games this season in which they have been reduced to 10 men.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As the operation grows across the city-wide black market, their ambitions clash with corrupt authorities, rival butchers and a shifting political landscape, pushing the family toward dangerous alliances and violent consequences.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
-
For instance, Google was found liable under US antitrust law for contracting with web browsers to make its search engine their default, as this was deemed to have prevented rival engines from reaching enough users to refine their algorithms to compete effectively.—
Satya Marar,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The lively, spirited daughter of an Afghani immigrant family chafes against the traditional values of her family and immigrant community.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Today, Salado’s historic roots blend with a lively creative scene.—
Lauren Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Authorities said the boy struck him while riding what was initially reported as an e-bike but was later determined to be an off-highway motorcycle — a vehicle not permitted on public roadways in California.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
-
One of the five was an MIT professor killed at his doorstep by a former Portuguese classmate who was later determined to be the Brown University mass shooter.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
