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
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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
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2026
But, despite the lightning speed at which the Chinese AI industry is moving, it’s still seen to be playing catch-up with its American rivals.
—CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
This was the sixth meeting of the season between these two NCHC rivals.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The alternative option required a bit of help from the Minnesota Twins — their American League Central rivals.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The two are rivals who play for Montreal and Boston and develop a secret relationship over time.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
To Reitzes, the preponderance of buy ratings on the stock reflects complacency on the part of his Wall Street rivals.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Escape Hybrid slips by in the shadow of rivals in part because of an early engine fire recall, but also because of the discontinuation of the model at the end of this model year.
—Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Far-right politicians have lost to mainstream rivals in the southern cities of Nîmes and the port of Toulon, a major naval base on the Mediterranean, which were two key targets for the National Rally.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Goodall, Fossey and Galdikas showed that chimpanzees make tools and wage political struggles, that gorillas live in complex family groups, and that orangutans raise their young with a patience and investment that rivals that of humans.
—Mireya Mayor, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Big Ten rivals Nebraska and Iowa have budgets separated by just $781,000, while Sweet 16 foes Michigan and Alabama have the smallest spending gap of $411,000.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Because of its redundant fuel cell configuration, the six 400-kW cells powering the turbofan motors are claimed to have a system resilience that rivals that of conventional engines.
—David Szondy
march 26, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
For The Times) Always expect drama and excitement when volleyball rivals Loyola and Mira Costa meet.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
De Masi is up against the likes of Google and IBM, as well as specialist rivals D-Wave and Rigetti, but his ambition is to be the first to $1 billion in revenue, too.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Denver PrideFest, which typically takes place in late June and draws more than 500,000 total visitors, rivals Cinco de Mayo in size and footprint.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Rick, Morty, and the rest of the Smiths change as the long-running series progresses, and their complexity as people rivals the show’s increasingly deep continuity.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Dublin congressman told KRON that the White House hopes to discredit him in the race as a frequent critic and to boost the chances of his Republican rivals.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2026
But, despite the lightning speed at which the Chinese AI industry is moving, it’s still seen to be playing catch-up with its American rivals.
—CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
This was the sixth meeting of the season between these two NCHC rivals.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The alternative option required a bit of help from the Minnesota Twins — their American League Central rivals.
—Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The two are rivals who play for Montreal and Boston and develop a secret relationship over time.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
To Reitzes, the preponderance of buy ratings on the stock reflects complacency on the part of his Wall Street rivals.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Escape Hybrid slips by in the shadow of rivals in part because of an early engine fire recall, but also because of the discontinuation of the model at the end of this model year.
—Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Far-right politicians have lost to mainstream rivals in the southern cities of Nîmes and the port of Toulon, a major naval base on the Mediterranean, which were two key targets for the National Rally.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
But rivals Microsoft and Google are eager to catch up.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Goodall, Fossey and Galdikas showed that chimpanzees make tools and wage political struggles, that gorillas live in complex family groups, and that orangutans raise their young with a patience and investment that rivals that of humans.
—Mireya Mayor, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Big Ten rivals Nebraska and Iowa have budgets separated by just $781,000, while Sweet 16 foes Michigan and Alabama have the smallest spending gap of $411,000.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Because of its redundant fuel cell configuration, the six 400-kW cells powering the turbofan motors are claimed to have a system resilience that rivals that of conventional engines.
—David Szondy
march 26, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
For The Times) Always expect drama and excitement when volleyball rivals Loyola and Mira Costa meet.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
De Masi is up against the likes of Google and IBM, as well as specialist rivals D-Wave and Rigetti, but his ambition is to be the first to $1 billion in revenue, too.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Denver PrideFest, which typically takes place in late June and draws more than 500,000 total visitors, rivals Cinco de Mayo in size and footprint.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Rick, Morty, and the rest of the Smiths change as the long-running series progresses, and their complexity as people rivals the show’s increasingly deep continuity.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
Are human beings really that much more evolved than our Cretaceous counterparts?—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But while some of his counterparts have stepped down to avoid rebuilding every year and constantly having to fundraise, Pitino has thrived in it.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The decision drew immediate fire from El-Sayed's primary opponents and national Democratic figures, forcing a rare public reckoning over how far the party should go to recapture young men who abandoned it in record numbers in 2024.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Whoever wins the primary will likely win the November general election, and McAdams faces a half-dozen Democratic opponents.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the first episode’s Elimination Challenge‚ which was focused on North Carolina’s state vegetable, sweet potatoes — Cochran cooked up a pork loin in the kitchen at La Belle Helene that wasn’t quite cooked through, landing her in the bottom three competitors.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
-
To help resolve these dilemmas, European industry leaders are calling for government support, including subsidies and tax breaks, to level the playing field with Chinese competitors whose products come at unbeatable prices.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The South Korean startup competes not only with Nvidia but also with a growing list of other startups from Cerebras to Groq — a company that Nvidia licenses technology from.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The top finisher from Massachusetts was Haverhill native Shea Morris, who competes for the New York Military Academy during the high school season.—
Barry Scanlon,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rock stars and their equivalents in other genres often develop their craft in obscurity before being discovered; idols are apprentices, trained exhaustively by their management companies.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Short-term money market funds and cash equivalents can offer places to hide from the volatility.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the horror sequel, Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail return to face new foes as well the old murderous animatronic animals of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The teams are potential first-round playoff foes, depending on how high the 10th-place Hornets can climb in the conference standings.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Moore spoke at the Maryland statehouse for the premiere of NPR's Newsmakers, a new video podcast featuring high-profile interviews with leaders across society, from business figures to athletes to presidential contenders.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The state's liberal majority is split among eight Democratic contenders.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Theron races through the forest and rafts through the rapids while Egerton follows her into caves and down the side of a cliff.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Amazon plans to double its launch frequency and cram more satellites into each rocket as the company races to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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