as in battles
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rivalries
At a time when the news cycle seems to serve up nothing but conflict, crisis and woe, the World Cup offers shelter, a truly international event in which conflict is defined by long-term sports rivalries and questionable referee decisions.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA's greatest rivalries into two of the game's greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Despite global tech fragmentation and rivalries, major powers are surprisingly converging on addressing AI's most catastrophic risks.
—
Mark Minevich,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Those rivalries, bravado and score-settling led to the carnage, Ng argued Monday.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
The arrests are likely to have ripple effects across Iraq’s fractured political landscape, where accusations of corruption frequently intersect with rivalries over power and influence.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
At the same time, disagreements among friends may expose rivalries, mixed loyalties or gossip that has been circulating beneath the surface.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
First, the worst conference changes hadn’t struck yet, and some of the rivalries torn apart by previous realignments were even getting back together.
—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Corporate rivals fund opposing super PACs The Bores contest is the most visible arena in which the AI sector's intramural rivalries are spilling into politics.
—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
22 June 2026
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA's greatest rivalries into two of the game's greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
Despite global tech fragmentation and rivalries, major powers are surprisingly converging on addressing AI's most catastrophic risks.
—
Mark Minevich,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Those rivalries, bravado and score-settling led to the carnage, Ng argued Monday.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
The arrests are likely to have ripple effects across Iraq’s fractured political landscape, where accusations of corruption frequently intersect with rivalries over power and influence.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
At the same time, disagreements among friends may expose rivalries, mixed loyalties or gossip that has been circulating beneath the surface.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
First, the worst conference changes hadn’t struck yet, and some of the rivalries torn apart by previous realignments were even getting back together.
—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Corporate rivals fund opposing super PACs The Bores contest is the most visible arena in which the AI sector's intramural rivalries are spilling into politics.
—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalries
Noun
-
On Friday, Putin visited the Russian military headquarters directing the action in Ukraine to receive a report on the capture of the city of Kostyantynivka after weeks of intense street battles.
-
Legal battles can discourage farmers Mora said the years-long litigation has left him feeling frustrated and defenseless.
Noun
-
Being able to work through conflicts can often result in an even stronger bond.
-
China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
Noun
-
And then there’s the guy that had a lot of success, and through injuries or struggles, needs to change some things and adjust some things.
-
The actress spent a few years away from Hollywood, working at a treatment center after her own struggles with substance abuse.
Noun
-
As with many Latin American and African teams, Paraguay defend deep and are extremely physical in duels and aerial battles.
-
On Wednesday, Tillman won nine duels — the most of anyone who played on either side — and had five dangerous interceptions, a metric used in soccer that accounts for stopping an attack.
Noun
-
Drama unfolds as tears are shed, confrontations occur and someone is asked to leave.
-
Ever delves into catastrophic confrontations over fences, noise, and general bad behavior.
Noun
-
Riders are screened before competitions and anyone considered too inexperienced is denied entry.
-
Olise’s five assists in France’s opening four games have been a ruthless continuation of his club form, having racked up 26 in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season.
Noun
-
At the time, Sackler offered no response to these contentions.
-
Nowhere is this reconciliation more evident than in the enduring contentions surrounding France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia, also known as Kanak by its native community.
Noun
-
Israel for years avoided officially recognizing the violence as genocide out fear of angering Turkey, but that relationship has soured over the past two decades, especially as the most recent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have dragged on.
-
Pandemic bottlenecks, wars, climate shocks and geopolitical tension exposed the fragility of global supply chains.
Cite this Entry
“Rivalries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalries. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
