as in competitive
having or marked by a strong desire to win or be better than others
The competing salespeople were all trying to lure the same customers.
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Dissimilar Words
as in contending
to engage in a contest
prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competing
Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Pope Leo’s emphasis on respect and dialogue suggests a desire to move beyond polarization, but competing interpretations of both doctrine and pastoral practice continue to divide American Catholics.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Even making a slightly lower offer may be more viable when sellers know there are fewer competing bids.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
The Department intends to stop funding both 2025 new awards and non-competing continuations for these seven grant programs.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adversaries appear as competing bids, regulatory hurdles or stakeholders with diverging agendas.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus return to defend their titles, along with American tennis stars Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and more competing.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025
With pickup truck prices ever increasing—the F-150 starts at nearly $40,000—and competitors like Slate Auto offering simpler competing vehicles for lower prices, that’s meaningful.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Everybody's always looking, curious, competing and that's a really difficult thing, especially for a female actor.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Our guys were locked in and competing.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Although details are still scarce, the project is not about plunking a new architectural icon down in Bloomsbury or competing with Norman Foster’s great glass dome.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
The Knicks will not have room on their payroll to stay beneath the second apron, re-sign Mitchell Robinson to a contract extension and match a competing offer when Diawara becomes a free agent.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Political experts say modern socialists are essentially competing for influence within the Democratic Party, a function of the two-party system.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Weiner believes points out there are many, occasionally competing, theories as to how April Fools' Day originated.
—Tom Fish, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Both schools will have plenty of athletes competing in the Arcadia Invitational on April 11.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Cherelus, Martin-Scott, Njongmeta and Windmon will all be competing for depth jobs.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Rodríguez represents just one of multiple and competing interests within a Venezuela elite composed of a precarious civil-military alliance officially committed to a leftist populist ideology called Chavismo.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Pope Leo’s emphasis on respect and dialogue suggests a desire to move beyond polarization, but competing interpretations of both doctrine and pastoral practice continue to divide American Catholics.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Even making a slightly lower offer may be more viable when sellers know there are fewer competing bids.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
The Department intends to stop funding both 2025 new awards and non-competing continuations for these seven grant programs.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adversaries appear as competing bids, regulatory hurdles or stakeholders with diverging agendas.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus return to defend their titles, along with American tennis stars Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and more competing.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025
With pickup truck prices ever increasing—the F-150 starts at nearly $40,000—and competitors like Slate Auto offering simpler competing vehicles for lower prices, that’s meaningful.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Everybody's always looking, curious, competing and that's a really difficult thing, especially for a female actor.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
The legislation, the latest in a long effort by some lawmakers of both parties to rein in the price of insulin, faces many hurdles, including concerns about the cost and other competing congressional priorities.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Our guys were locked in and competing.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Although details are still scarce, the project is not about plunking a new architectural icon down in Bloomsbury or competing with Norman Foster’s great glass dome.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
The Knicks will not have room on their payroll to stay beneath the second apron, re-sign Mitchell Robinson to a contract extension and match a competing offer when Diawara becomes a free agent.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Political experts say modern socialists are essentially competing for influence within the Democratic Party, a function of the two-party system.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Weiner believes points out there are many, occasionally competing, theories as to how April Fools' Day originated.
—Tom Fish, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Both schools will have plenty of athletes competing in the Arcadia Invitational on April 11.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Cherelus, Martin-Scott, Njongmeta and Windmon will all be competing for depth jobs.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competing
Adjective
-
Republicans broadly supported the administration's military action in Iran, but most GOP incumbents in competitive races have noticeably ducked addressing rising gas prices while defending the war itself.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Missouri showed flashes of becoming a competitive SEC team, particularly on offensively, but struggled to sustain success against deeper opponents.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Wizards are talking about contending next season, once their centerpiece arrives through the draft.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
After the second call was overturned, Twins manager Derek Shelton exploded from the dugout, contending Helsley didn’t challenge in time.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s a massive loss of talent, and FIU responded by bringing in Myles Cunningham from Bucknell and Lawrene Johnson from rival FAU.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But seeing its rival hoist the trophy in both major sports would cut like a knife.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of Miranda’s constituents are still fighting the city’s stadium plan, including its cost to taxpayers, which grew again in February to $135 million.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Nissie Cadette took the mic and spoke about what an influence Metayer had been on her life, fighting through tears at every word.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The driver was also placed on a non-driving status pending the results of the investigation.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
But the small lineup has helped with spacing, creating more driving lanes for Dent while also allowing Bilodeau to beat more plodding counterparts on offense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In 2019, the odds for the three worst teams were flattened, as a way to discourage teams from racing to the bottom.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
That proved costly less than a minute later when Markanich, racing up the center, got behind Galaxy defender Mauricio Cuevas to corral a long ball from Joaquín Pereyra, then beat keeper JT Marcinkowski cleanly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Asked if Mike would be hustling to South Florida to see the brothers reunited on Thursday night, the consensus was that dad would be better off in a more familiar setting.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Sunday night and Monday morning, O'Hare was hustling and bustling, filled with a nervous energy.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And, he’s been battling with that.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Larson has spent the past eight years battling Minnesota for the state’s top prep players and will use the newfound recruiting cache that comes along with that Gophers logo on his pullover.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competing. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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