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
Andrew Rice, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Shares of psychedelic drug developers such as Compass Pathways and other rivals tied to the space rallied following the announcement, with Wall Street analysts arguing the order could legitimize an industry long viewed as fringe.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 31 May 2026
In his village of just 30 homes, six people have now been killed by rivals on the lake in the past few years.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
The Pentagon sees such weapons as a potential solution for penetrating advanced air-defense systems fielded by rivals such as China and Russia.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
Riker has spent nearly twice as much as his top Democratic rivals.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
These two great rivals never raced each other again.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Fry set foot back in the PLP building just a day after Arsenal, the hated north London rivals of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur, were confirmed as Premier League champions with just today’s final round of games to go.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 May 2026
Firms that once occupied distinct positions now operate simultaneously as partners, suppliers, distributors, competitors, and rivals.
—Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Most pieces are under $75, and the quality rivals that of much pricier brands.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The adjoining bathroom rivals the square footage of most New York City apartments, featuring a walk-in closet, massive shower, bathtub, and separate toilet room.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
The hidden costs of OTC CGMs can turn what looks like a simple over-the-counter purchase into a recurring expense that rivals a phone bill.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
With a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) sprint time that rivals a Corvette.
—New Atlas, 27 May 2026
Cloud rivals Google and Microsoft followed Amazon in bringing out custom Arm chips.
—Jordan Novet,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Today, Dillons Point now ranks as Marlborough’s most valuable land, where a single hectare now rivals the price of prime land in Sancerre, France.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has highlighted AI as the tentpole of the company’s future, projecting a multi-trillion-dollar market opportunity that rivals the total value of all US economic activity.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026
Noun
With so many of his friends and rivals stuck on shore, Botin acknowledged his lead in the standings didn’t give him the usual sense of satisfaction.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Shares of psychedelic drug developers such as Compass Pathways and other rivals tied to the space rallied following the announcement, with Wall Street analysts arguing the order could legitimize an industry long viewed as fringe.
—Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 31 May 2026
In his village of just 30 homes, six people have now been killed by rivals on the lake in the past few years.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026
The Pentagon sees such weapons as a potential solution for penetrating advanced air-defense systems fielded by rivals such as China and Russia.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
Riker has spent nearly twice as much as his top Democratic rivals.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
These two great rivals never raced each other again.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Fry set foot back in the PLP building just a day after Arsenal, the hated north London rivals of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur, were confirmed as Premier League champions with just today’s final round of games to go.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 May 2026
Firms that once occupied distinct positions now operate simultaneously as partners, suppliers, distributors, competitors, and rivals.
—Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Verb
This growing financial strength was reflected in a report published last week by analytics group Football Benchmark, which cast Barca as the second most valuable club in European football behind Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Most pieces are under $75, and the quality rivals that of much pricier brands.
—Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The adjoining bathroom rivals the square footage of most New York City apartments, featuring a walk-in closet, massive shower, bathtub, and separate toilet room.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
The hidden costs of OTC CGMs can turn what looks like a simple over-the-counter purchase into a recurring expense that rivals a phone bill.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
With a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) sprint time that rivals a Corvette.
—New Atlas, 27 May 2026
Cloud rivals Google and Microsoft followed Amazon in bringing out custom Arm chips.
—Jordan Novet,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Today, Dillons Point now ranks as Marlborough’s most valuable land, where a single hectare now rivals the price of prime land in Sancerre, France.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has highlighted AI as the tentpole of the company’s future, projecting a multi-trillion-dollar market opportunity that rivals the total value of all US economic activity.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
Next week’s trip provides Xi yet another opportunity to present himself as a geopolitical power broker with direct lines to a diverse cast of counterparts.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
The Harvard Apple Women’s Health Study noted in a May 2025 update that women who exercise regularly show lower all-cause mortality than male counterparts at equivalent activity levels.—
Allison Palmer
June 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Donalds’ opponents have repeatedly tried to knock him for supporting the expansion of AI data centers in the state.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
-
Up until the issuing of the judge’s temporary restraining order, many of its opponents described feeling helpless about a project that, in their eyes, had an air of inevitability.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The company’s shares are down 16% year to date as investors worry its businesses are being eaten up by competitors and that Copilot’s user base leaves a lot to be desired.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
-
While data center hardware has historically been a boom/bust business, the bull case now is that HPE and its competitors have worked to reduce that cyclicality.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The women’s squad competes in the amateur Women’s Premier Soccer League.—
PJ Green
May 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
-
Rest competes with duties as the moody Moon moves through your 12th House of Solitude, opposite inventive Uranus in your 6th House of Work and Well-being.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Models like Mythos are unique today, but history is clear that open-weight equivalents will follow.—
Philip Martin,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
How different to the NASA equivalents at Cape Canaveral (then Cape Kennedy) and Houston, which were already well established in the national lexicon by the late '60s.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The dog paces to and fro, hackles bristling, snapping at the empty air, its head turning one way, then the other, as if aware of invisible foes in the valley around them.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Daemon rocks the trailer with blood on his face from sticking his sword into foes.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Ferrandis, 31 and from France, is considered the longshot of the seven contenders.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Across 2025-26, there are few outstanding contenders — a reflection upon, at least as far as the Premier League is concerned, a Newcastle campaign riddled with inconsistency and underperformance (for the most part).—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Its most recent 54th run was record-breaking, the biggest marathon in history, with 132 countries represented, 59,226 finishers and by far the highest number of spectators in every neighborhood who supported and cheered runners on a route that races through all five boroughs.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
What Wolff came back with was the idea to take F1 Academy from a standalone series to one that races alongside F1.—
Danielle McNally,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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