RIVALS Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

rivals 1 of 2

noun

plural of rival

as in counterparts

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

as in opponents

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

as in competitors

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

noncompetitors

rivals

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rival

as in competes

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 rivals

Noun

In the race to build the most capable AI, the perception of which lab is ahead can change several times in a few months, as each major release gives rivals a new standard to meet. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Tim Berners-Lee helped put the web into the public domain and later founded the World Wide Web Consortium, where rivals could agree on standards. — Bob Pearson, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 On one side, Democratic candidates have turned into absolute cash cows, raising oodles more than their Republican rivals across Senate and House battlegrounds. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 Democrats are more than happy to draw those connections, pummeling their Republican rivals for standing by a president who is unpopular with so many voters. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Such a retreat could then embolden Modi’s rivals and encourage further protests—and raise the prospect that a galvanized opposition might finally unseat the prime minister in the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2029. — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 Their Democratic rivals are hitting back, saying the efforts have either not gone far enough or are self-serving in the final weeks of the campaign. — David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026 In doing so, the 1 Pro+ directly challenges top rivals like the $549 Viture Beast. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 Marlon Brando Clift and Brando were both contemporaries and, at times, acting rivals. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 9 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 lawsuit named rivals Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Quigley and Maria Pappas. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The artificial intelligence buildout now rivals China’s post-WTO investment boom in scale, and its consequences will extend far beyond the tech sector. — Jared Franz, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 The number of emergency applications now rivals the annual tally of cases the justices consider with full briefing and oral arguments, Alito wrote in a new book released Tuesday. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026 Hirst’s work now rivals that of Jeff Koons in seeming specifically conceived for asset-class collectors. — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 If you’re feeling tapped out on the idea of perfectly stenciled place settings and a front-yard light show that rivals a Hartsfield-Jackson runway, here are a few things to consider. — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Parting from its old Big East rivals a second time is a much easier sell if it is done to help basketball as well as football. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026 Trump faces more blame than Biden did Trump’s low grade on the economy rivals Biden’s 28% approval rating in June 2022, when there was record-high inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rivals

Noun

Even after the setback, young households remained wealthier than their counterparts were before the pandemic.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
In more recent times, moreover, the first steps taken by the Third Reich toward the Holocaust began with the economic boycott of the Jews, who were accused of harming the businesses and positions of their Aryan counterparts.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of counterparts

Noun

Since then, Netanyahu has been criticized by opponents for failing to deliver on his promise of restoring regional security.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
That's two in a row for the Longhorns to unranked opponents as Florida went into Austin on Saturday and left with a 27-24 win.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of opponents

Noun

Erik Shirai cinematically captures the spectacle of strength that is the world of professional sumo wrestling, and shines a rare spotlight on the secrecy of the sport and its formidable competitors.

— Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
The fifth-highest payroll, the Toronto Blue Jays – seen as serious competitors for the AL East title – saw their season end before October.

— Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitors

Verb

Sports rights are key as Netflix competes for subscribers and advertising with rivals from DAZN to Amazon, Apple and YouTube.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
When Patagonia's founder moved the company into a purpose trust in 2022, such extraction became impossible by design; Bosch has been majority-owned by a foundation for decades and competes ferociously.

— Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of competes

Noun

The widening gap in French bond yields over their German equivalents has raised questions over whether the European Central Bank would have to take the expensive and politically controversial step of intervening to stabilize the market.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
In the summer of 2026, Ukraine also targeted multiple warehouses belonging to the Russian companies Wildberries and Ozon, which are Russia’s Amazon equivalents.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of equivalents

Noun

Ward is 3-19 as a starting quarterback, which includes a 0-7 mark against AFC South foes, and is staring another loss to a divisional rival in the face with the Titans traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Colts on Sunday.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Trying to find her brother, Prue — aided by Curtis, who reveals previously unseen pluck and ingenuity — encounters a variety of colorful animal and human characters as both friends and foes.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of foes

Noun

Trezavant Boyd and James Perrone are both contenders for the Nat Moore Trophy, an award recognizing South Florida's top high school football player.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Fest director Susan Koch is landing more and more top Oscar contenders and talent every year, as well as Oscar pundits to cover them.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of contenders

Verb

The high pressure air in the Great Basin races downhill to the coast.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
These days, the market is awash in retailers and consumer plays that are leaking market cap as every investment dollar races out into the AI trade.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of races

Browse Nearby Words

rivalry

rivals

rive

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Style

“Rivals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rivals. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rivals

noun

verb

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