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
Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Of course, there’s a risk that Gemini and other top AI models could get leapfrogged by rivals.
—Ryan Vlastelica, Fortune, 10 May 2026
The user interface is equally refined and mirrors the machine itself—fluid, intuitive, and refreshingly free of the labyrinthine menus found in many rivals.
—Robb Rice, Robb Report, 10 May 2026
Barcelona are priced at 8/13 with Betfair to win this one, while Madrid are 11/4 to take three points that stop their rivals from claiming the title in front of them.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 10 May 2026
The Knicks won Game 3 Friday night, and are on the verge of sweeping their rivals, which serves Philadelphia right for trying to pull off such an underhanded scheme.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Once fierce rivals, the two men were responsible for the country’s first peaceful transfer of power between parties, after Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party defeated Adams and the Federalists in the election of 1800.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
While rivals like the Tacoma and Colorado constantly reinvent themselves, Nissan tends to take the long road by refining, tweaking, and polishing instead of blowing everything up every few years.
—New Atlas, 3 May 2026
AFAR Media, 11 May 2026
Lake Superior The American half of the world’s largest freshwater lake (by surface area) stretches across northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, a vast expanse of water, trees, islands and wildlife that rivals anything out west.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have lost to both AFC West rivals on Christmas (although Mahomes missed the Denver loss).
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
That includes showdowns with district rivals Sandburg and Stagg plus area powerhouses Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East and Lockport.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
While there are other national athletic associations for college sports, none rivals the NCAA in terms of market control and attracting the best athletes.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
The Dolphins have home games next season against AFC East rivals Buffalo, New England and the New York Jets plus Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
This is Inter’s 21st league title and their third in the last six seasons, moving them two clear of city rivals Milan as the nation’s second-most successful side, behind 36-time champions Juventus.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The Bagsmart Travel Backpack has pockets galore, opens like a suitcase, and is actually cute (which rivals similar bags from premium travel brands).
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Noun
Two old rivals, the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun, played the first game of the league’s 30th season with two potentially budding rivals, the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, capping the night in the third and final game.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Of course, there’s a risk that Gemini and other top AI models could get leapfrogged by rivals.
—Ryan Vlastelica, Fortune, 10 May 2026
The user interface is equally refined and mirrors the machine itself—fluid, intuitive, and refreshingly free of the labyrinthine menus found in many rivals.
—Robb Rice, Robb Report, 10 May 2026
Barcelona are priced at 8/13 with Betfair to win this one, while Madrid are 11/4 to take three points that stop their rivals from claiming the title in front of them.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 10 May 2026
The Knicks won Game 3 Friday night, and are on the verge of sweeping their rivals, which serves Philadelphia right for trying to pull off such an underhanded scheme.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Once fierce rivals, the two men were responsible for the country’s first peaceful transfer of power between parties, after Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party defeated Adams and the Federalists in the election of 1800.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
While rivals like the Tacoma and Colorado constantly reinvent themselves, Nissan tends to take the long road by refining, tweaking, and polishing instead of blowing everything up every few years.
—New Atlas, 3 May 2026
Verb
For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Picchu and Cusco to discover what lies south—a region of white volcanic cities, canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a food scene that rivals Lima’s in flavor (if not fame).
—AFAR Media, 11 May 2026
Lake Superior The American half of the world’s largest freshwater lake (by surface area) stretches across northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, a vast expanse of water, trees, islands and wildlife that rivals anything out west.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have lost to both AFC West rivals on Christmas (although Mahomes missed the Denver loss).
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
That includes showdowns with district rivals Sandburg and Stagg plus area powerhouses Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East and Lockport.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
While there are other national athletic associations for college sports, none rivals the NCAA in terms of market control and attracting the best athletes.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
The Dolphins have home games next season against AFC East rivals Buffalo, New England and the New York Jets plus Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
This is Inter’s 21st league title and their third in the last six seasons, moving them two clear of city rivals Milan as the nation’s second-most successful side, behind 36-time champions Juventus.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 3 May 2026
The Bagsmart Travel Backpack has pockets galore, opens like a suitcase, and is actually cute (which rivals similar bags from premium travel brands).
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
Their Democratic counterparts have often lagged in comparison.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Their strategy was defensive in nature (as indicated by the Maginot Line), and their tanks were designed accordingly, featuring heavier armor and larger guns than their British, German, and Soviet counterparts.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this season, Chelsea were leaving three attackers out on the halfway line at defensive corners to give them counter-attacking outlets and to force opponents to match them up, helping clear the penalty area of bodies.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson used his postgame press conference to defend the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, specifically the level of physicality Wembanyama gets from opponents during games.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Simon did not cite any competitors, but Aéropostale typically squares off with emerging, teen-centric brands like Edikted, Princess Polly and Urban Outfitters.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Publishing a blog alongside a report titled The Netflix Effect, Co-CEO Sarandos took the fight to his competitors.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The lawyers said that, following the end of her five-year noncompete with Lauder, Malone is allowed to engage in a business that competes with Jo Malone London, and to use her name to identify herself when doing so.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas, competes in Sprint qualifying on Saturday.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Researchers now hope to push the double copy framework even further by searching for particle-physics equivalents of other black hole features, including the event horizon itself — the boundary beyond which nothing can escape.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
-
Bose pros Bose products are known for their rich sound, and although Bose is a top audio equipment brand, many of them are more affordable than Sonos equivalents.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a subway goes horribly wrong, Reacher is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
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The 2026 opener will serve as the 13th time the Cowboys have opened the season against the Giants, with Dallas owning an 11-1 record all-time against its divisional foes in season openers.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The Knicks look like bona fide title contenders.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
Fourteen candidates are on the ballot, though only five, including Pratt, are viewed as viable contenders heading into the June 2 primary.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Eta Aquarid meteors can be spotted from April 19 to May 28 as Earth passes through the debris trail left in the wake of Halley's Comet as the comet races along its 76-year orbit.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Jake LaRavia races down for a layup.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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