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.
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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
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The 2026 edition will spotlight the Bay Area’s dynamic ecosystem, where championship franchises, emerging women’s sports properties, global events leadership and institutional capital intersect.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But then you guys came along and created another dynamic duo in Kathryn and Samara.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On April 1 — April Whew’s Day for the Aztecs — Gwath announced his return after the MESA Foundation put together a more competitive agreement that, of course, was still well short of what the blue bloods could offer.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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These results highlight that classical computational chemistry methods remain surprisingly competitive, and in some cases could outperform quantum approaches, even with perfect quantum hardware.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The rival rallies in Budapest, which drew hundreds of thousands of people in support of Orbán's nationalist Fidesz party and Magyar's center-right Tisza, are being viewed as a barometer for which side commands more support as the campaign enters its final month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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The two sides are back in court in North Carolina on Monday as JGR seeks a restraining order to stop Gabehart for working for rival Spire Motorsports.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Family discussions will be lively.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
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Outside of sports, the college town has a lively music scene, numerous craft breweries, and a variety of family-friendly activities, including the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Bear Hollow Zoo.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But the leading candidates to succeed her seem determined to support the tax regardless of the consequences.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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The people in charge of Florida government — which is top-to-bottom controlled by extreme elements of the GOP — are determined to turn this state into California, where voters are duped into supporting an endless stream of short-sighted tax cuts.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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