1
as in counterparts
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value
a design that is a rival to any produced by a professional graphic artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in opponents
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
the boxer's toughest rival thus far
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in competitors
one who strives for the same thing as another
the four cities that are the top rivals for the site of the next Olympic Games
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivals
Josh Sisco, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
HostArmada may lack Windows server support and has stricter storage and database size limits compared with rivals offering similar plans.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Midway through the first half, the Trojans had played their crosstown rivals to a tie, 21-21.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
UConn, Quinnipiac and Yale were sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the ratings index, but the NCAA looks to avoid conference rivals playing in the first round.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
This cycle, Uihlein has contributed a comparatively modest $250,000 to one of Bailey’s rivals, Ted Dabrowski, a right-wing policy analyst.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Ticket sales were drastically behind the studio’s projections of $16 million to $18 million, as well as rivals and independent tracking services, which offered a more conservative estimate of $10 million to $15 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
The state rivals were both highly motivated after losing their season openers.
—Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
When the regular season ended last weekend, with a 29-12 victory over rivals in Cal State Bakersfield, both teams met at center mat to join in prayer.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
And Byron Donalds, the Republican frontrunner in the contest to succeed DeSantis, has enthusiastically supported the Orlando warehouse plan, while blasting governor’s race rivals Demings and Democrat David Jolly for their opposition.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
But from his perspective, the pain people are suffering now rivals generations of suffering from dissidents who did not support the regime.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
But as negotiations between the two sides stalled, rivals OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI also agreed to deploy their models in classified capacities.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Flamengo booked its place in the Campeonato Carioca final against Rio de Janeiro rivals Fluminense, courtesy of an 11-0 aggregate victory over fourth-tier side Madureira.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Coastal Mississippi is constantly surprising us, but one of its most delightful surprises is the fact that some of its beaches have white sand that rivals even Florida’s top spots.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
The Big Arch is a massive burger that rivals the Big Mac.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026
But when private tuition rivals college costs, the divide between those with options and those without becomes impossible to ignore.
—Jacquelyn Martell, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
Live Nation has faced years of antitrust scrutiny over its 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster, which was cleared by the Obama administration and later contested as inadequate by rivals, lawmakers and fans.
—Josh Sisco, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
HostArmada may lack Windows server support and has stricter storage and database size limits compared with rivals offering similar plans.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Midway through the first half, the Trojans had played their crosstown rivals to a tie, 21-21.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
UConn, Quinnipiac and Yale were sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the ratings index, but the NCAA looks to avoid conference rivals playing in the first round.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
This cycle, Uihlein has contributed a comparatively modest $250,000 to one of Bailey’s rivals, Ted Dabrowski, a right-wing policy analyst.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Ticket sales were drastically behind the studio’s projections of $16 million to $18 million, as well as rivals and independent tracking services, which offered a more conservative estimate of $10 million to $15 million.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
The state rivals were both highly motivated after losing their season openers.
—Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2026
When the regular season ended last weekend, with a 29-12 victory over rivals in Cal State Bakersfield, both teams met at center mat to join in prayer.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
Once again, the Mission League will take center stage Tuesday night when rivals Sierra Canyon (28-1) and Harvard-Westlake (27-6) clash for the last time this season in the CIF State Southern California Regional finals.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
And Byron Donalds, the Republican frontrunner in the contest to succeed DeSantis, has enthusiastically supported the Orlando warehouse plan, while blasting governor’s race rivals Demings and Democrat David Jolly for their opposition.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
But from his perspective, the pain people are suffering now rivals generations of suffering from dissidents who did not support the regime.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
But as negotiations between the two sides stalled, rivals OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI also agreed to deploy their models in classified capacities.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Flamengo booked its place in the Campeonato Carioca final against Rio de Janeiro rivals Fluminense, courtesy of an 11-0 aggregate victory over fourth-tier side Madureira.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Coastal Mississippi is constantly surprising us, but one of its most delightful surprises is the fact that some of its beaches have white sand that rivals even Florida’s top spots.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
The Big Arch is a massive burger that rivals the Big Mac.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026
But when private tuition rivals college costs, the divide between those with options and those without becomes impossible to ignore.
—Jacquelyn Martell, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
Guests traveling aboard Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas will get the opportunity to see a permanent America's Got Talent LIVE show, featuring a rotating lineup of magicians, acrobats, and singers pulled from the show and its global counterparts.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Since weather-resistant products can often be more costly than their interior counterparts, consider practical, yet lower-cost materials to use such as concrete, stainless steel, or composite material for cabinetry.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Marcus Smart stepped in front of driving opponents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Attorney Ryan Jacobson from Amundsen Davis said the payments covered attorneys fees for two ongoing lawsuits the senator brought against political opponents.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Harris entered the race with a $4 million backing, according to FEC filings, a staggering amount compared to his competitors.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The key points of the settlement include an over $200-million payment, a divestment from some amphitheaters, a gradual end to exclusive ticketing contracts with venues, and opening up Ticketmaster’s platform to competitors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Implats, which competes with Valterra and Sibanye-Stillwater in the platinum group metals market, has a long-standing presence in Zimbabwe, having steadily built its stake in Zimplats in the early 2000s and become the dominant owner, holding more than 80% of the company.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When Fritz competes on home soil, his tennis often blooms.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Was there a need to be accurate when recreating sets to reflect their real life equivalents?—
Kyle Beechey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But their television equivalents come out nearly every month, gems in a wash of pebbles, pouring unceasingly past.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The public revelation on July 16, 1973, of a taping system designed to record all the president’s conversations stunned Nixon friends and foes alike.—
Douglass K. Daniel,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In Oakland, the company has encountered numerous foes, including former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who unsuccessfully tried to indict Radius on numerous felony charges in 2023 over a massive fire that left black smoke billowing in the sky.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Styles’s lanes — the sleek male pop vocalist, the possible rock icon — are now brimming with contenders.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The City of Trees was one of the top five contenders for the title, WalletHub said.—
Hali Smith
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As Europe races toward energy independence, this facility could become a primary feeder for a pipeline network meant to power the continent’s heavy industry.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
-
That prompted the team to tab Myatt Snider, who races part-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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