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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For parents and leaders, the CLA is a framework that explains how dynamic systems (like people) work.—
Joe Boylan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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But much of his story focuses on Spears and their tumultuous romance, from the whirlwind of attention to their inevitably contentious dynamic.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This transition reflects our commitment to evolving with those changes and ensuring UNC Charlotte remains competitive and sustainable.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
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The new map could flip the competitive 1st Congressional District in the Republicans' favor.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The latest flare-up coincided with a historic trip by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan’s rival India, triggering concern in Islamabad.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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The trouble is, VistaVision went out of fashion for a reason and was never as widely adopted in its heyday as some of its rival formats.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Missoula, Livingston and Bozeman have lively literary scenes.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Expect lively notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, and green apple, anchored by a soft minerality that adds depth without overpowering.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Broncos seemed determined to splatter Ragu on Mona Lisa.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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Bernadette Fox, a brilliant but agoraphobic architect, mysteriously disappears, sending her 15-year-old daughter, Bee, on a determined search.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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