as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
a healthy rivalry in sports between the two schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rivalry
The rivalry between gangs in both areas stretches back decades.
—
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
The reality star entered Traitors with a looming Big Brother rivalry with Danielle Reyes.
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Munster coach DeAndre Williams quipped about Sotiropoulos’ potential role in this edition of the rivalry game.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
Cementing the end of Lamar’s long-simmering rivalry with Drake, the song debuted May 4, 2024, with staggering numbers, racking up 96 million streams in its first week and crossing a billion Spotify streams in just three months.
—Janeé Bolden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rivalry 
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
The reality star entered Traitors with a looming Big Brother rivalry with Danielle Reyes.
—Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Munster coach DeAndre Williams quipped about Sotiropoulos’ potential role in this edition of the rivalry game.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
Cementing the end of Lamar’s long-simmering rivalry with Drake, the song debuted May 4, 2024, with staggering numbers, racking up 96 million streams in its first week and crossing a billion Spotify streams in just three months.
—Janeé Bolden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rivalry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivalry
Noun
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Stock car racing’s highest circuit is set for a novel in-season tournament and will compete internationally, while the sanctioning body introduces several competition changes.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2025
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The following month, Payne flew to Manchester, England, and served as a guest judge on the Netflix reality-TV music competition Building the Band.—
Federico Fahsbender,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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At the time, the entertainment giant continued to fight a high-profile legal battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over control of its special tax district that afforded the company special privileges in the state to control the land its sprawling theme parks sits on.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Feb. 2025
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The base was originally named in 1918 for Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, who was known for owning slaves and losing key Civil War battles that contributed to the Confederacy's downfall.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Per Opta, Gonzalez ranks first for Porto for possession regains (73), tackles (34) and aerial duels contested (68) this season.—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
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This is an exercise in grandstanding compared with the Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton duel, which ended in Hamilton’s death.—
Stephen Humphries,
The Christian Science Monitor,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The rampant bird flu's effect on egg prices, her own gout struggle and microplastics.—
Lindsay Kimble,
People.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Considering UConn’s struggles shooting from long range in its losses, the importance of its best 3-point shooter can’t be overstated, especially when Fudd can add drives and pull-up midrangers when defenses chase her off the line.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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And while Messing says some other Hollywood stars have been reluctant to speak on the conflict, her voice keeps getting louder.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
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The escalation of the conflict puts the Chicago Federation of Labor, to which both unions belong, in a tough spot.—
Gregory Royal Pratt,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The movie featured a starry cast — Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Orlando Bloom, and many more — in a gritty, chaotic portrait of urban warfare that impressed audiences and critics alike.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
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For several years, Space Force commanders and Pentagon officials have touted the importance of in-space mobility, or dynamic space operations, in a new era of orbital warfare.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Her fights are not just physical confrontations but manifestations of the battles within her.—
Kevin Cassidy,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
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The gunman later died after a confrontation and shootout with police.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The window of contention slammed shut on the Suns faster than anyone could have imagined.—
J. Robbins, J. Edwards and D. Mayberry,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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After days of contention, the Senate on Thursday voted to confirm Russell Vought to be the country’s next director of the Office of Management and Budget.—
Zach Halaschak,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rivalry
Cite this Entry
“Rivalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivalry. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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