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
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Recent Examples of rivalry
The Southern California rivalry between San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC takes on even more importance this week as both teams trying to escape a losing skid.
—
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 8 May 2026
That’s why the series’ episodes that focus specifically on his rivalries with other climbers, in particular Honnold and Hunt, feel the most enlightening.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
The unanimous decision came during a nine-hour-long meeting that included several tense moments arising out of longstanding political rivalries.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
This has also become something of an intersectional rivalry since the Ducks won in Columbus in 2021.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 8 May 2026
That’s why the series’ episodes that focus specifically on his rivalries with other climbers, in particular Honnold and Hunt, feel the most enlightening.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
The unanimous decision came during a nine-hour-long meeting that included several tense moments arising out of longstanding political rivalries.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
This has also become something of an intersectional rivalry since the Ducks won in Columbus in 2021.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
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The Browns are expected to hold a quarterback competition in training camp among Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel, with rookie Taylen Green selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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Critics portray the movement as politically motivated, but many athletes and parents involved insist their concerns center on competition rather than ideology.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Decades-long legal battle The Supreme Court decision to overturn Glossip’s conviction and death sentence last year marked a major turning point in his decades-long legal battle.—
Linh Tran,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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But the frenzied redistricting battle of the past few months — including a congressional map in his home state thrown out by a court after people voted to approve it, and certain elections postponed in Louisiana and Alabama after mail ballots already went out — has done it.—
Miles Parks,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
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On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Game 1 on Thursday at Byron Nelson High School was a pitchers duel won by the Bobcats 3-2.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
Noun
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With another o-for in the books, the impending free agent declined to talk about his struggles following Monday’s game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
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In the aftermath, Mad's sister, Annabel, becomes a recluse, and Mad struggles to keep the family's bar afloat as the sisters become the center of damaging gossip.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Altman was briefly forced to step down from leadership of OpenAI in 2023 in part due to concerns about potential conflicts between his personal investments and his operation of the company, but was soon reinstated.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Instead, the data revealed a planet in flux where areas brightened explosively in one year and dimmed sharply the next; regions flickered in rhythms tied to oil booms, armed conflicts, and pandemic lockdowns.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Noun
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The terrorist group has been largely decapitated and is unable to wage meaningful counter-warfare against Israel and its allies, but is believed to still boast significant caches of weaponry that could threaten the long-term peace of the future Palestine.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
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The country’s ability to credibly threaten commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz actually hinges on multiple layers of cheap and unconventional warfare systems – drones, mines and a fleet of small attack boats, which are harder to detect than traditional naval assets.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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When the dispute moved to the parking lot, witnesses said Hearne threw the first punch, and videos circulating online appeared to show the confrontation.—
JJ Velasquez,
San Antonio Express-News,
10 May 2026
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Two Montrose Police Department officers shot an armed man in a confrontation Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
Noun
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This time, however, Kubo may have the right mix of youthful energy and experience to help push his country further into contention.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
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How much can the franchise truly count on Embiid as the center of its contention hopes?—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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