Synonyms of rivals

rivals 1 of 2

noun

plural of rival

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

• counterparts
• equivalents
• partners
• colleagues
• peers
• competitors
• fellows
• likes
• equals
• coordinates
• parallels
• compeers
• matches
• companions
• coequals
• associates
• analogues
• twins
• mates
• halves
• doubles
• copartners

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

• opponents
• foes
• competitors
• adversaries
• contestants
• antagonists
• enemies
• matches
• equals
• attackers
• combatants
• archenemies
• nemeses
• invaders
• assailants
• curses
• bêtes noires
• banes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partners
• allies
• supporters
• accomplices
• proponents
• advocates
• champions
• confederates
• exponents
• sympathizers

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

• competitors
• contenders
• contestants
• challengers
• competitions
• finalists
• archrivals
• corrivals
• players
• opponents
• entrants
• adversaries
• entries
• antagonists
• semifinalists
• also-rans

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noncompetitors

rivals

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rival

as in competes

to engage in a contest

two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• competes
• races
• contends
• fights
• battles
• vies
• challenges
• faces off
• maneuvers
• plays
• engages
• jockeys
• jostles
• works
• goes out
• trains
• tries out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rivals

Noun

Sarah Pinto, head of Robinhood Ventures, has no issue with backing rivals. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

The possibilities ‘are endless’ Candidates with smaller campaign budgets rely on artificial intelligence to compete with their rivals, Ridout suggested. — Anagilmara Vílchez, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

From the people that hated going against him on a Friday night, from our rivals. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

The announcement added to investor concern that CXMT could take market share from rivals SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

The pair are generational talents in the world of professional hockey and sworn on-ice rivals, who meet as teenagers. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Tim Berners-Lee helped put the web into the public domain and later founded the World Wide Web Consortium, where rivals could agree on standards. — Bob Pearson, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Democrats are more than happy to draw those connections, pummeling their Republican rivals for standing by a president who is unpopular with so many voters. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

In doing so, the 1 Pro+ directly challenges top rivals like the $549 Viture Beast. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

And though a teenaged Lauper flunked out of Fashion Industries, her substantial impact on fashion since then nearly rivals her enormous influence on music. — Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Netflix also is coming off a rare third-place finish at the Emmys behind rivals Apple TV and HBO. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

The lawsuit named rivals Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

The artificial intelligence buildout now rivals China’s post-WTO investment boom in scale, and its consequences will extend far beyond the tech sector. — Jared Franz, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

The number of emergency applications now rivals the annual tally of cases the justices consider with full briefing and oral arguments, Alito wrote in a new book released Tuesday. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Hirst’s work now rivals that of Jeff Koons in seeming specifically conceived for asset-class collectors. — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

If you’re feeling tapped out on the idea of perfectly stenciled place settings and a front-yard light show that rivals a Hartsfield-Jackson runway, here are a few things to consider. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Parting from its old Big East rivals a second time is a much easier sell if it is done to help basketball as well as football. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026