Thesaurus results for COMPETE

compete

verb

kəm-ˈpēt

Definition of compete

as in to contend

to engage in a contest prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 compete The software maker competes with major rivals such as Google and Amazon for customers and has an AI-powered assistant called Copilot. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 The architects of the Constitution anticipated that officials in different branches would compete to preserve their authority. — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Healthcare organizations have competing priorities like clinical equipment, staffing, facilities and digital services. — Aliasgar Dohadwala, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The analyst also noted that the firm's robotaxis have seen a sharp inflection in miles driven, giving Levy more confidence Tesla can compete with rival Waymo's fleet. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compete

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compete

Verb

The lawsuit in District Court for the District of Columbia contends that the federal government failed to comply with numerous statutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Mazzio's attorney said the two men are longtime friends and contends their actions were legal.

— Alice Gainer, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of contend

Verb

While an ordinary walk might leave her mind racing toward work, looking for a particular color gave it something else to do, effectively putting all that other mental chatter on mute.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
Together, the symbols represent more than 280 years of racing history and state pride, officials say.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of race

Verb

For now, Smith and her team are on the road as the Valkyries fight to take home the WNBA Championship Trophy.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
My school years passed in a sliding door moment, and all there was to behold in that frame was a young man who had to physically fight to be allowed to be someone else—himself.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

The fire broke out at the Eagle’s Nest in the Bavarian Alps on Friday evening, and firefighters battled the flames against strong winds.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Republicans are battling to keep their top-of-the-ticket foothold in a state that will, once more, stand at the center of the presidential campaign.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of battle

Browse Nearby Words

compensations

compete

competed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compete. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of compete

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes