as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivalry
There are no great rivalries in team sports these days.
—
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
When asked what rivalry could emerge in the coming years, several staffers were bullish on Ohio State-Oregon growing into a true rivalry in the Big Ten.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 11 July 2025
There’s been a lot of change in college football in recent years, but rivalries still form the foundation of the sport for so many fans.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Adding an element of controversy to what’s been an unusually friendly title rivalry, Piastri even suggested that if McLaren thought the call was unfair, the team could ask him and Norris to swap places to cancel the effect of the penalty.
—James Ellingworth, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
When asked what rivalry could emerge in the coming years, several staffers were bullish on Ohio State-Oregon growing into a true rivalry in the Big Ten.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 11 July 2025
There’s been a lot of change in college football in recent years, but rivalries still form the foundation of the sport for so many fans.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Adding an element of controversy to what’s been an unusually friendly title rivalry, Piastri even suggested that if McLaren thought the call was unfair, the team could ask him and Norris to swap places to cancel the effect of the penalty.
—James Ellingworth, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
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Stage 32 is launching a Global Screenwriting Contest Hub, bringing together dozens of writing competitions from around the world into one place including Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying contests.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
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Beginning with five pairs who choose to couple up, the show then sees the islanders through eight weeks of fierce competition as bombshells enter the villa and games are played to see who will leave the villa as the strongest couple.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Coming weeks after Lexington and Concord, the battle marked the British effort to control the hills surrounding Boston’s harbor.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
19 July 2025
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There was a long legal battle, that went on for years.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Junk and Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers engaged in a pitchers’ duel into the seventh inning.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 July 2025
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What looked like a classic pitchers’ duel before the game took some twists and turns on Friday, with one ace looking rock-solid, but losing, and another ace struggling early, but winning.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Javier Hernandez, executive director of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, told The Associated Press that agents eventually arrested the Honduran man following the struggle inside the clinic that was captured on video.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
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Franklin might be the most recent honoree (beating out Curt Cignetti), but the Penn State coach’s struggles with self-editing are not specific to his dealings with Notre Dame.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
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There have been conflicts between rideshare drivers and taxis in the past, so consider sticking with a reputable taxi or car service, However, the more adventurous can rent a car to explore nearby cenotes, ruins, and regional highlights.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
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Sources say the departure was due to a scheduling conflict and that the search is actively underway to find a new showrunner for the high-priority series.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The defeat of the Islamic State in Kobani—with significant American air support—energized the PKK, which started a campaign of urban warfare and tried to take over cities in southeastern Turkey.—
Ragip Soylu,
Time,
18 July 2025
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Military officials have suggested that the bot operation may be part of a wider effort involving Russia, a longtime practitioner of digital influence warfare.—
Deborah Danan,
Sun Sentinel,
16 July 2025
Noun
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The incident is one of the latest in a growing series of confrontations with federal immigration officers.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
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That ultimately led to a verbal confrontation between Morrow, 47, and Steve Raleigh.—
Kevin Grasha,
The Enquirer,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Of course, not everyone gets to take home the gold, and indeed, not everyone gets as far as a nomination, but some are left out of contention for reasons that have nothing to do with audience or critical appreciation or Television Academy voter preferences.—
Ryan Fleming,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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There is still more work to do, but the Lakers are trying to make the necessary moves to get back into championship contention.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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