RIVALRY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

rivalry

noun

ˈrī-vəl-rē

Definition of rivalry

as in competition

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rivalry The chiefs rivalries uniforms will honor arrowhead stadium considering the 4 year window with these rivalry uniforms will be the last 4 years at arrowhead. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 This guy theorized that the debate had something to do with the cross-town rivalry between the city’s two high schools. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 And in the preceding match, the Canadian international converted on a free kick in second-half stoppage time to hand the Summit a 2-1 victory over Utah in the Continental Divide rivalry match. — Karan Lodha, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The two had a major falling out when Shakur pressed Snoop Dogg to take sides in the West Coast-East Coast rivalry. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rivalry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry

Noun

Combined with recent updates across several companies in the AI industry, the AI competition appears to have entered a new phase centered on cost-efficiency.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Horse racing revenue in Illinois had been dwindling for years due to competition from casinos, the lottery, and video and sports gambling.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

The twin springs that gave the Revolutionary War battle its name are no more, inundated by the 1940s project that flooded the Santee River basin for hydroelectric power and flood control.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Outrageousness seems to be the point of these battles, which have no apparent criteria, judges, or rules.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of battle

Noun

Martinez and former Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz were locked in a scoreless pitching duel until the sixth, when the Rays went up 3-0 after Baz got two straight outs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Back in the Premier League after nearly a decade away, Hull won 50 duels, on the ground and in the air, to United’s 35.

— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of duel

Noun

Yet after initially acknowledging the economic struggle, the government once again accused the protesters of being foreign agents before unleashing one of the worst crackdowns in the Islamic Republic’s history.

— Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggle

Noun

Meanwhile, outside the five districts that Democrats hope to switch, there are safely Democratic districts where progressive candidates are jousting with mainstream rivals, a subset of the national party’s ideological conflict.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Add to this the conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, and the macroeconomic backdrop to back-to-school shopping is hardly optimal.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

The legal challenge intensified an unusually public dispute over how AI can be used in warfare and mass surveillance.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Rather than designing an entirely new robotic counter-drone vehicle, the companies combined an existing robotic platform with an existing sensing and electronic warfare capability.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of warfare

Noun

Bond and Best had been in a brief confrontation earlier in the evening, while talking to the same woman near the intersection of Tyson and Battle streets, officials say.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
Along with their production crew, who went ahead to test internet connections, meet locals, and scout each stop, Al-Emad and Andrijasevic were less concerned with manufacturing confrontations than letting local people show them around.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of confrontation

Noun

The Hawkeyes could be a good team but go 0-3 and see their CFP hopes dashed, but even one victory could keep them in Playoff contention.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
That might be a problem for the Commanders because their contention is that these Redskins items are sold on a limited availability.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of contention

Browse Nearby Words

rivalrous

rivalry

rivals

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“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rivalry

noun

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