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
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
Instead, Civil War focuses intently on the knotty dynamic (sometimes familial, sometimes patently rivalrous) between Jessie and Lee—an ambitious, possibly opportunistic up-and-comer and the haunted professional who’s seen it all—and the role of journalists in a society on the brink of collapse.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 12 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
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
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
Instead, Civil War focuses intently on the knotty dynamic (sometimes familial, sometimes patently rivalrous) between Jessie and Lee—an ambitious, possibly opportunistic up-and-comer and the haunted professional who’s seen it all—and the role of journalists in a society on the brink of collapse.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 12 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
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalrous
Adjective
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Saturday's opponent, Arkansas State, promises to have a much more dynamic attack with quarterback Jaylen Raynor and plenty of speed at the skill positions.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Argentina squad has continued to get younger and more dynamic.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In 2021, the county opened competitive bidding for the project.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Two months, one competitive win, one draw and one defeat in charge of Leverkusen.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to reports, various outside powers in the Middle East, Africa and further afield have provided military assistance to one or other of the rival sides, complicating efforts to end the conflict.—
Robert Birsel
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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The stock was down about 2% this year before Tuesday’s pop, significantly lagging the broader market as well as its rival Coca-Cola.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The line connects the bustling Praça dos Restauradores in Baixa (downtown Lisbon) with the lively Bairro Alto district and the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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While in La Latina, its winding medieval lanes overflow with lively tapas bars and local chatter.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The training highlighted how quickly multiple dangers can erupt at once, and how determined authorities are to prepare for the next flashpoint.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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According to several sources to RadarOnline, Prince William is determined to remove his uncle from the Firm.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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