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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In particular, the older technology that smartphones and laptops need is called DRAM, or dynamic random-access memory.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Golding was able to retain standout quarterback Trinidad Chambliss after the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, meaning that the 49ers will take on one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation in Week 2.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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England’s top division is known for its competitive depth, meaning there is usually at least one upset every gameweek.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Since the texts were published, several Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have taken the extraordinary step of calling on Gonzales to resign or drop out of a competitive GOP primary race set for Tuesday.—
Bayliss Wagner,
San Antonio Express-News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Perveen, a partner with her father in their law firm, is excited about taking on as clients director Subhas Ghoshal and his beautiful wife, Rochana, a popular movie star who recently left a rival studio.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
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The world is seeing that now, with a response that has seen Iran launch missiles across the Middle East and at rival Gulf nations.—
Nina Srinivasan Rathbun,
The Conversation,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Calle Cerra brings together multiple food and drink concepts in one lively stretch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
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From Erdem’s anniversary show to a slew of energetic debuts and a surprise appearance from His Majesty the King, this London Fashion Week (LFW) was particularly lively for a February edition.—
Maliha Shoaib,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But now, with the bloodless spectacle of a button being pushed to prompt a computer to decide the league-phase fixtures, then variables for the knockouts limited to deciding which of two pre-determined teams the winners of the play-offs would face, the old way actually seems quite diverting.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Baylor was determined to make Miles a scorer, according to head coach Nicki Collen, and when Miles was involved in pick-and-roll action, Baylor defenders went underneath the screen and dared Miles to take jumpshots.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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