rival 1 of 3

noun

ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce rival (audio)
Definition of rivalnext
1
as in equivalent
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 opponent
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 competitor
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

rival

2 of 3

adjective

as in competitive

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

rival

3 of 3

verb

as in to compete
to engage in a contest two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 rival
Noun
The pair are generational talents in the world of professional hockey and sworn on-ice rivals, who meet as teenagers. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 California is among a minority of states that have such acts, unlike rivals including Texas, Tennessee and Florida, which do not. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The Hurricanes needed to get one more stop to secure a double-overtime victory against rival Florida State. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 The single-aisle jet, which can have up to 230 seats, was introduced at the Paris Air Show in 2017 to help Boeing compete with rival Airbus. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Netflix also is coming off a rare third-place finish at the Emmys behind rivals Apple TV and HBO. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 The problem now extends to a lack of frontier AI models that can rival the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude or comparable tools from China’s DeepSeek. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rival
  1. equivalent
  2. opponent
  3. competitor
  4. competitive
  5. compete
  6. counterpart
  7. foe
  8. contender
Noun
  • This elegant purple is the equivalent of buying a classic Max Mara trench in mulberry instead of tan—streamlined and simple, but with a wink.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The company held almost $132 billion in cash, equivalents and short-term investments at the end of June.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Noun
  • Sorrells said that his opponent’s assessment is Ill-informed.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But that game was in New York and this one was in Charlotte’s backyard and, more importantly, against a far better opponent.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of opponent
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
Adjective
  • The prizes for Serielizados two competitive sections were announced Saturday night at a Serielizados awards ceremony.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The impact of higher fuel costs on demand and profits is also critical, as is the competitive landscape relative to UPS this holiday season.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitive
Verb
  • The council evaluated four competing proposals solicited after the city issued a contract termination notice to trash hauler Republic Services in September.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Africa is attracting investment from major miners as China and Western governments compete to secure minerals for clean energy and advanced technologies.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of compete
Noun
  • Beatrice is Nick’s reflection at Cathcarts, while Smallwood’s counterpart is Serena.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In another warning sign for Republicans, Kansas’ Democratic gubernatorial nominee Cindy Holscher and Senate nominee Adam Hamilton both narrowly led their Republican counterparts, within the poll’s margin of error.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of counterpart
Noun
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes -- routinely denied by the Kremlin -- have been common during his decades in power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of foe
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

ritzy
rival
rivaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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