competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən How to pronounce competition (audio)
Definition of competitionnext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a competition between two fierce football rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in contestant
one who strives for the same thing as another tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 competition Industry schedules point to more flying capacity, potentially intensifying competition for passengers even as fuel ​prices are expected to stay high and making this year’s substantial fare gains harder to repeat. — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 Even when Wayne made the move to UCLA and faced Big Ten competition, there was no guarantee of a starting role. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Gonzalez declined to specify the exact injury that prematurely ended his preseason competition with Patterson. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 Name-brand loyalty is facing more competition as shoppers weigh familiar products against cheaper alternatives. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition
  1. tournament
  2. contestant
  3. rivalry
  4. event
  5. competitor
  6. battle
  7. game
  8. contender
Noun
  • Over time, the company has aggregated a combination of destinations, tournaments, leagues and camps, illustrating how physical facilities can anchor a broader participation business rather than function simply as real-estate assets.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Second-round leader Haeran Ryu, who birdied her last three holes, still led the tournament by four strokes after a 4-under 68 and a three-round total of 17-under 199.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • There’s something so unsettling about a game show where the contestants’ well-being is not considered, and The Tonight Show leaned into that uncanniness to great effect.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Other celebs to have been announced include Celebrity Traitors contestant Joe Lycett and the Sugababes.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • The Jets have the home-field advantage in the rivalry game and have more experienced veterans on the roster while in the second year of coach Glenn’s regime, as Miami is in its first year under coach Jeff Hafley.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • An in-state rivalry between two California teams tips off tonight.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • The last includes those black-swan events that come out of left field and test a company’s resilience, from war to pandemics.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Last year, Kort helped launch an Eat the Invaders event, bringing chefs together to channel people’s appetite for delicious food by cooking with invasive and overabundant species.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • When attorneys transact a merger between two retail giants like Albertsons and Kroger, a standard strategy to address anticompetitive concerns is to spin off a new competitor.
    — Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge is to broaden a brand’s appeal without diluting the characteristics that distinguish it from competitors.
    — Yiling Pan, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By focusing on the battles fought in luxury department stores, fashion shows, high-end spas, nail salons, and the home, the film illustrated just how limited even privileged women’s options were.
    — Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • Sexton, who missed all five preseason games, was a full participant in practice Monday and did not suffer a setback, Redick said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • That’s going to be one of the best things about this season — the preponderance of Hornets games on local TV.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • Beyond that, this hilarious, heartfelt two-hander is a strong best-picture contender, and Malkovich, who took the Venice Film Festival’s Volpi Cup for best actor, is also a frontrunner for his charming, slippery turn.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Home Harvest is the latest contender in this indoor smart garden space, with two appliances designed to turn microgreens, herbs, and salads into something halfway between a countertop convenience and a gardening project.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing
competition
competitions
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on competition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about competition

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