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
The translation into Hindi inevitably fails; instead, two fabulously different, almost rivalrous texts sit next to each other.
—
James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 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
The rivalrous power dynamic between Jones and frontman Jagger is captured in brilliant subtlety in the glances between them during an impromptu interview.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
A little more than a year ago, Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville men’s basketball coach Chris Mack were publicly exchanging rivalrous barbs ahead of the 2020-21 season, a season which saw the Cardinals defeat the Wildcats.
—Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 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
The rivalrous power dynamic between Jones and frontman Jagger is captured in brilliant subtlety in the glances between them during an impromptu interview.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
A little more than a year ago, Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville men’s basketball coach Chris Mack were publicly exchanging rivalrous barbs ahead of the 2020-21 season, a season which saw the Cardinals defeat the Wildcats.
—Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 28 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for rivalrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalrous
Adjective
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In Marvel’s Ironheart, the world of technology collides with the supernatural, creating a fresh, dynamic chapter in the MCU.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 July 2025
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Amazon $399 Bose $400 Best Buy The Bose Soundlink Mac (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the ultimate modern boombox, thanks to huge dynamic drivers, massive bass, and an awesome ropelike carrying handle.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Considering the short window between series, MLB obviously would need to have this all planned out — from both a logistical and competitive perspective — well ahead of time.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 July 2025
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But, the spirit of competitive excellence from his team has fueled an unquenchable thirst .—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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After its 2023 merger with rival Total Access Communications, True is now the country’s largest mobile operator with nearly 49 million subscribers.—
Phisanu Phromchanya,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Those restrictions were secured by rival malls when commissioners approved the development plan in 2018.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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In February, a lively and well-attended protest march took over the streets of downtown McAllen; a news site compared it to a celebration after a high-school-football victory.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
7 July 2025
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Despite multiple comeback attempts, Miami dropped the series opener to the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-5, in front of a lively crowd of 16,715 fans—many of whom stayed for the postgame fireworks.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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But that doesn't diminish the emotional payoff of watching its determined hero tackle (no pun intended) one obstacle after another.—
Sophie van Bastelaer,
EW.com,
7 July 2025
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Surely, a determined Indiana student who wants to attend his or her state university should be able to study German, art history or dance, somewhere; if not in Bloomington, then where else in Indiana?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalrous. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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