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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rivals
ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
This year's playoff matchup between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will be the eighth time in history that the cross-state rivals meet in the postseason.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
To be sure, the tech lobby will argue that these requirements make AI more expensive, potentially handing the lead to global rivals.
—Ken Silverstein, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
The Gophers men’s basketball program beat out one of its top rivals by bringing in North Carolina transfer Kyan Evans via the portal on Saturday.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Incumbent lawmakers in both parties have pushed back against abrupt shifts that could dramatically change the political landscapes within each party and potentially force incumbents into messy primaries with rivals.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
No word on what happens after ceasefire expires The face-to-face talks that ended early Sunday were the highest-level negotiations between the longtime rivals since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Anything to keep the family from looking like failures to their neighbors/rivals.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
New rivals like SpaceX and Blue Origin have yet to show their rockets can get to the moon.
—Sana Pashankar, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
Tim Rohan, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The guide spans decades-old gems like The Diamond and Lupie’s alongside spots like Bird Pizzeria and Fin & Fino, proving Charlotte’s food diversity rivals any major city.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2026
On top of the consistent winning and competing for CIF Southern Section championships, the Wolverines’ lineage of players rivals any program in America.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
In North Brooklyn, Brooklyn Baby Hui now rivals Park Slope Parents with 10,000 members on Facebook and multiple WhatsApp chats.
—The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Since war broke out in late February, the show in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia province, had grown increasingly popular, as interest surges among Chinese people in a nearby nation and culture that rivals their own in its depth and ancientness.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Pepperoni rivals any Sicilian-style pizza slice around the city.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
True Thompson Makes a Unique Sparkling Apple Snack True set the scene right from the jump with an intro that honestly rivals most YouTubers twice her age.
—Ryan Brennan
april 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Kwon said in the letter that Musk’s behavior could inhibit OpenAI’s efforts to bring about artificial general intelligence, or AGI, a broad term for an AI system that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.
—Ashley Capoot,kate Rooney, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
But critics note Angola still has deep problems with corruption and have questioned if Lourenco’s actions were more aimed at political rivals so as to consolidate his power.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
This year's playoff matchup between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will be the eighth time in history that the cross-state rivals meet in the postseason.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
To be sure, the tech lobby will argue that these requirements make AI more expensive, potentially handing the lead to global rivals.
—Ken Silverstein, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
The Gophers men’s basketball program beat out one of its top rivals by bringing in North Carolina transfer Kyan Evans via the portal on Saturday.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
Incumbent lawmakers in both parties have pushed back against abrupt shifts that could dramatically change the political landscapes within each party and potentially force incumbents into messy primaries with rivals.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
No word on what happens after ceasefire expires The face-to-face talks that ended early Sunday were the highest-level negotiations between the longtime rivals since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Anything to keep the family from looking like failures to their neighbors/rivals.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
New rivals like SpaceX and Blue Origin have yet to show their rockets can get to the moon.
—Sana Pashankar, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
Manchester City overwhelmed rivals Arsenal over the weekend and are now in control of the Premier League title race.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
The guide spans decades-old gems like The Diamond and Lupie’s alongside spots like Bird Pizzeria and Fin & Fino, proving Charlotte’s food diversity rivals any major city.
—Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2026
On top of the consistent winning and competing for CIF Southern Section championships, the Wolverines’ lineage of players rivals any program in America.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
In North Brooklyn, Brooklyn Baby Hui now rivals Park Slope Parents with 10,000 members on Facebook and multiple WhatsApp chats.
—The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Since war broke out in late February, the show in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia province, had grown increasingly popular, as interest surges among Chinese people in a nearby nation and culture that rivals their own in its depth and ancientness.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Pepperoni rivals any Sicilian-style pizza slice around the city.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
True Thompson Makes a Unique Sparkling Apple Snack True set the scene right from the jump with an intro that honestly rivals most YouTubers twice her age.
—Ryan Brennan
april 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Kwon said in the letter that Musk’s behavior could inhibit OpenAI’s efforts to bring about artificial general intelligence, or AGI, a broad term for an AI system that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.
—Ashley Capoot,kate Rooney, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
Orbán had vetoed the bill after initially agreeing to it, enraging EU officials and counterparts across the 27-nation bloc.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The committee is held by a slim Republican majority of 13, two ahead of their Democratic counterparts.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alaves are happy to chase their opponents up the pitch, Mallorca are more comfortable sitting back, while Sevilla have adopted a direct approach since Luis Garcia Plaza took over in March.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
At close range, Bruce would extend his neck to thrust at opponents, adding a run or jump to the motion when attacking from farther away.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Reigns tossed Punk from the announce table onto the ground as the referee begged for both competitors to get back into the ring.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
In 2025 many mechanical competitors overheated and fell.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lukas Prock, a former Wellesley standout quarterback, now competes for The Hun School in New Jersey.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This is the energy that initiates, competes and takes up space without apology.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, the marks are essentially phonetic equivalents and, thus, sound similar.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
As of December, Gossamer has $137 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, enough to fund the company into the first quarter of 2027.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and a bloody nose in a physical game between the Northwest Division foes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Trump allies — and foes — unite to oppose a blockbuster television merger.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Sky do own the Atlanta Dream’s next two first-rounders from the Angel Reese trade, but the Dream are projected to be title contenders with their picks likely falling well outside the lottery.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
MacKinnon is one of the top contenders for those honors again this season, after finishing first in goals and third in points with 127 — the second most of his career.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With the support of his wife Chiyoho (Yoshitaka), Murashige races to uncover the truth before the castle falls.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Some Senate races in what should be Republican strongholds are suddenly looking tighter that expected.—
Nancy Cook,
Bloomberg,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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