1
as in equivalent
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 opponent
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 competitor
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
as in competitive
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rival
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
However, this came after the TV Academy ended a four-year deal with ABC (following six years on Fox) early when rivals vowed to boycott the ceremony.
—
Peter White,
Deadline,
2 July 2026
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
In the aftermath of the crash, Pakhtakor were protected from relegation from the Soviet top division for three years and authorities persuaded rival clubs to donate players to help their recovery.
—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
That means Google’s data center energy usage rivals the electricity consumption of entire countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, and Nigeria.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Noun
Never mind the Celtics and Sixers are longtime and bitter rivals.
—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
However, this came after the TV Academy ended a four-year deal with ABC (following six years on Fox) early when rivals vowed to boycott the ceremony.
—
Peter White,
Deadline,
2 July 2026
Adjective
And fighting between rival gangs was common.
—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
In the aftermath of the crash, Pakhtakor were protected from relegation from the Soviet top division for three years and authorities persuaded rival clubs to donate players to help their recovery.
—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Verb
Gas stations have been reinventing themselves for the past decade with food offerings that rival many established grub-only chains.
—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
That means Google’s data center energy usage rivals the electricity consumption of entire countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, and Nigeria.
—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
Noun
-
More than two decades since the Concorde supersonic airliner last took to the skies, NASA has been flying an experimental aircraft designed to replace loud sonic booms with a quieter thump equivalent to a car door slamming shut 20 feet away.
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In 2014 she was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, for services to the arts and to charity.
Noun
-
The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
-
Other opponents generally feel compelled to drop an extra player into the back line, forming a back five against Japan’s front five — as the Netherlands did, with Frenkie de Jong dropping in from midfield.
Noun
-
Joby has been in a fierce battle to be the first with taxis in the sky with its Northern California competitor Archer Aviation.
-
Plaintiffs claimed that Disney’s carriage agreements required streaming platforms to include ESPN in base channel packages, limiting the ability of competitors to offer cheaper bundles.
Adjective
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Conservative activists cost Republicans some competitive Senate seats — the GOP didn’t win control of the upper chamber until nearly halfway through Barack Obama’s second term — but helped win the House and stayed embedded in their deep-red districts.
-
This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.
Verb
-
Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general, and Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to conservative British politicians, are competing to replace Newsom.
-
According to Reuters, Gakpo was given time off to spend with his family, who are staying near the team base in Kansas City as the Netherlands competes in the World Cup.
Noun
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After recently joining the brand ambassadorship craze by naming Spanish music sensation Bad Gyal as their brand’s first ambassador, the Dsquared2 founders are adding a male counterpart to this new strategy by tapping another local talent.
-
Unlike larger corporate counterparts, SMEs don't always have the financial reserves to comfortably absorb geopolitical upheaval and rapid inflation.
Noun
-
Unrestricted free agents Marcus Smart, 32, and Luke Kennard, 30, agreed to deals with Western Conference foes.
-
There is so much evil and suffering in the world, so much conniving and malicious intent, and the self is, at least, a familiar foe.
Noun
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The East's hierarchy is now fluid, with the Sixers emerging as serious contenders, though the Celtics remain a formidable force.
-
If allowed to run, Le Pen is widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election.
Cite this Entry
“Rival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rival. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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