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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rivals
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Ronda Rousey needed just 17 seconds to defeat Gina Carano via armbar on Saturday night, and her rivals needed about the same amount of time to take to social media to mock the performance.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
The risk is that, in the meantime, domestic rivals with greater financial heft pull away and those behind them who are upping their investment, such as Tottenham Hotspur and London City Lionesses, close in.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
The prospect has Davis' business rivals accusing him of unfairly weaponizing the president's favorite trade tool — and throwing Davis' political weight around — to create an uneven playing field for everyone else in the quartz industry.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 17 May 2026
Dialogue between rivals over contentious issues is welcome, but Washington could do more harm than good if American negotiators bring the nuclear arms control playbook to AI talks.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 May 2026
Two old rivals, the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun, played the first game of the league’s 30th season with two potentially budding rivals, the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, capping the night in the third and final game.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
ABC News, 17 May 2026
There were similar scenes after Celtic’s late winner at Motherwell on Wednesday and after the Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers when both sets of fans entered the field after the penalty shoot-out.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The spa and fitness offerings, which occupy a huge amount of space on a ship of this size, include a thermal circuit that rivals many on land, including an ocean-view sauna and a relaxation room that, when the conditions are right, features a drop-down door that lets guests enjoy a sea breeze.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
Custer State Park Bordering Wind Cave, Custer State Park truly rivals many national parks.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026
OpenAI's models and services are so widespread that the company has ballooned to an $850 billion valuation and has forged partnerships with Microsoft cloud rivals Google, Oracle and, as of February, Amazon.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 13 May 2026
For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Picchu and Cusco to discover what lies south—a region of white volcanic cities, canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a food scene that rivals Lima’s in flavor (if not fame).
—AFAR Media, 11 May 2026
Lake Superior The American half of the world’s largest freshwater lake (by surface area) stretches across northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, a vast expanse of water, trees, islands and wildlife that rivals anything out west.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have lost to both AFC West rivals on Christmas (although Mahomes missed the Denver loss).
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
Noun
White Sox fans got the last laugh on Sunday afternoon as their squad completed a wild, thrilling comeback victory over their crosstown rivals.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Ronda Rousey needed just 17 seconds to defeat Gina Carano via armbar on Saturday night, and her rivals needed about the same amount of time to take to social media to mock the performance.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
The risk is that, in the meantime, domestic rivals with greater financial heft pull away and those behind them who are upping their investment, such as Tottenham Hotspur and London City Lionesses, close in.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
The prospect has Davis' business rivals accusing him of unfairly weaponizing the president's favorite trade tool — and throwing Davis' political weight around — to create an uneven playing field for everyone else in the quartz industry.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 17 May 2026
Dialogue between rivals over contentious issues is welcome, but Washington could do more harm than good if American negotiators bring the nuclear arms control playbook to AI talks.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 17 May 2026
Two old rivals, the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun, played the first game of the league’s 30th season with two potentially budding rivals, the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, capping the night in the third and final game.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Verb
Rai has a work ethic that rivals anyone, regardless of the temperature.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
There were similar scenes after Celtic’s late winner at Motherwell on Wednesday and after the Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers when both sets of fans entered the field after the penalty shoot-out.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The spa and fitness offerings, which occupy a huge amount of space on a ship of this size, include a thermal circuit that rivals many on land, including an ocean-view sauna and a relaxation room that, when the conditions are right, features a drop-down door that lets guests enjoy a sea breeze.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
Custer State Park Bordering Wind Cave, Custer State Park truly rivals many national parks.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 14 May 2026
OpenAI's models and services are so widespread that the company has ballooned to an $850 billion valuation and has forged partnerships with Microsoft cloud rivals Google, Oracle and, as of February, Amazon.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 13 May 2026
For Peru, that means looking beyond Machu Picchu and Cusco to discover what lies south—a region of white volcanic cities, canyons twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and a food scene that rivals Lima’s in flavor (if not fame).
—AFAR Media, 11 May 2026
Lake Superior The American half of the world’s largest freshwater lake (by surface area) stretches across northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, a vast expanse of water, trees, islands and wildlife that rivals anything out west.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have lost to both AFC West rivals on Christmas (although Mahomes missed the Denver loss).
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals
Noun
-
That’s a growth rate of about 23%, the largest change among Charlotte’s North Carolina counterparts.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
-
In court filings, Rogers, who is Black, said she was denied promotions and pay raises that were given to white counterparts over her years working at TCC.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Their season has been busy, grumpy and overstretched, and pressure has been a niggling, constant companion, particularly at home, but their opponents on Sunday were hapless, soft in defence and muddled in their thinking.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
His hope was that Mendoza would help the Raiders do the same, figuratively, for their opponents.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Collins’s main competitors are Derek Dooley, the former head coach of the football programs at Louisiana Tech and the University of Tennessee, and Buddy Carter, another Georgia congressman.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
-
Viola’s reaction spotlighted growing frustration among competitors who believe the ruling body is using procedural fixes to avoid addressing biological differences in girls' sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Quilting competes with my writing—there are, after all, only so many hours in a day—but like reading it also complements it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Ryan Rollins was one of the only bright spots from Milwaukee’s season, providing great value as a playmaker and shooter who competes defensively and has a nose for the ball.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Foundayo uses a different active ingredient than Lilly's blockbuster injectables Mounjaro and Zepbound, while Novo's Wegovy pill is essentially an extension of the company's injectable equivalents.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
But, after a period of upheaval that has few equivalents in recent OM history, there are signs the club’s decision-makers are getting serious about tamping down the flames.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Philly’s fans show out like few others can, and they’ll be leveled up in the presence of such familiar foes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
But Sean Payton’s team was also abnormally good in one-score games, won its final two against division foes without their starting quarterbacks, played a third-place schedule and stayed fairly healthy — until overtime of the divisional round, at least.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Barring an Eric Swalwell-style blow-up, the top three — Becerra, Steyer and Hilton — are really the only true contenders.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Three contenders for the Republican nomination are advocating for even more aggressive tax relief while oil prices are riding high.—
Morgan Lee,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Almost all tickets are sold out for both the Preakness and the Black-Eyed Susan races, according to the event website.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
For now, Singapore's supplies of bunker fuel have held up even as the price races up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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