variants
or rivalled
as in competed
to engage in a contest
two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivaled
In a career that saw 93 wins and four championships before retiring as a full-time competitor after the 2015 season, much of it was spent in an era where NASCAR’s popularity was at its zenith with television ratings that at times rivaled the NFL and many races with attendance exceeding six figures.
—
Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
And her passion for mentoring girls is only rivaled by her humility.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Cinemas had been flooded with spy movies by this point; even the Bond spoof Casino Royale, released the same year, rivaled the real 007 film's popularity.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
When many drummers felt intimidated by the waves of digital technology, Dunbar embraced the changes and was one of the few whose programming skills rivaled his live performance capability.
—Prof. Mike Alleyne Ph.d, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mirage is a decent small car that at the time was inexpensive and the miles per gallon rivaled a hybrid due to its three-cylinder engine.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress who rivaled Marilyn Monroe as a cinematic goddess for more than a decade, died on Sunday, December 28 at the age of 91.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 28 Dec. 2025
The bond that Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothée Chalamet form in their new movie, Marty Supreme, is only rivaled in its unlikely sweetness by their friendship in real life.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
And her passion for mentoring girls is only rivaled by her humility.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Seriously, my Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter worked overtime in 2016 and my complexion rivaled the Tin Man.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Cinemas had been flooded with spy movies by this point; even the Bond spoof Casino Royale, released the same year, rivaled the real 007 film's popularity.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
When many drummers felt intimidated by the waves of digital technology, Dunbar embraced the changes and was one of the few whose programming skills rivaled his live performance capability.
—Prof. Mike Alleyne Ph.d, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The Mirage is a decent small car that at the time was inexpensive and the miles per gallon rivaled a hybrid due to its three-cylinder engine.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress who rivaled Marilyn Monroe as a cinematic goddess for more than a decade, died on Sunday, December 28 at the age of 91.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 28 Dec. 2025
The bond that Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothée Chalamet form in their new movie, Marty Supreme, is only rivaled in its unlikely sweetness by their friendship in real life.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivaled
Verb
-
Women have never competed in Nordic combined at the Olympics.—
Rebecca Tauber,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Hayden, meanwhile, has competed well throughout her rookie season.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But multiple former offensive linemen contended Campbell’s Super Bowl struggles were not due to his arms.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Defense lawyers Brian Klein and Axel contended in court filings that Puig, who is from Cuba, was confused because of his language barrier and a dual diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The excitement is real — the first time Pastrana raced in the Daytona 500.—
Ryan Morik Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Inside an Irving Park bungalow, kids raced barefoot through the dining room, zooming past paper chains taped to the ceiling.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivaled. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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