rivaling 1 of 2

adjective

variants or rivalling
as in competitive

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

rivaling

2 of 2

verb

variants or rivalling
present participle of rival
as in competing
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 rivaling
Verb
By The Numbers Julia Robert’s & Leonardo DiCaprio MELANIA delivered extraordinary theatrical drawing power, rivaling some of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, the proliferation of large new data centers is rivaling inflation and the Iran war as midterm political issues--and, like them, is hurting the Republicans. — Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026 The combined company will be a giant in the entertainment business, rivaling only Disney and Netflix in terms of scale. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 The only thing that came close to rivaling the fashion fun on the catwalk was the major star power in the front row. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026 So, Wembanyama’s versatility is already rivaling that of one of the greatest offensive stretches in NBA history. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 This is the Degrassi kid turned global superstar rivaling Taylor Swift, after all. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026 The settlement is one of the largest state consumer protection settlements in history, rivaling the Big Tobacco payouts in the 1990s, according to a press release from Coleman. — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Aug. 2026 At the time, the rapper was signed to Knight's Death Row Records, which was associated with the Bloods gang, while Davis was a leader of the rivaling South Side Crips. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivaling
  1. competitive
  2. competing
  3. opposite
  4. contending
  5. opposing
Adjective
  • If the answer is yes, the efficiency gain may be a competitive loss in disguise.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Races in the Texas House include potentially competitive races for House District 94 in east Tarrant County and House Districts 96 and 97 in the county’s southern half.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitive
Verb
  • Two former prime ministers under Macron, Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, are in the race; Philippe is competing with Mélenchon for second place, while Attal trails both.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In the Actors’ Playhouse production, directed by David Arisco, its competing forces find expression in the performances, the costumes, choreography and even the arrangement of the set.
    — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of competing
Adjective
  • Then Brice Turang worked a full count and hit an opposite-field double.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • On the opposite end of the strip outside the Palais, toy brands Mattel, Hasbro and Pokemon occupy three adjacent stands.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of opposite
Verb
  • The Netflix film, which premiered at New York Film Festival earlier this month, is one of 10 Oscar-contending feature documentaries included in Doc Stories’ lineup.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Forecasting the Field The Olivias are contending for the top spots this year.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of contending
Adjective
  • Its use during the exercise simulated an attack against an opposing naval force.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Splitter praises his movement on and off the ball, which seems to visibly confuse opposing defenses.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of opposing

Browse Nearby Words

rivaled
rivaling
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Cite this Entry

“Rivaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivaling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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