Synonyms for rival
- noun
- verb
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
competitor, enemy, competition, adversary, opponent, challenger, contender, antagonist, hostile, belligerent, emulator
Verb
2. Compete
compete, antagonize, antagonise UK, contend, contend with, emulate, oppose, strive, vie dated
Adjective
Definitions
- n. 1
A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.
Chris is my biggest rival in the 400-metre race.
- v. 1
To oppose or compete with.
to rival somebody in love
- v. 2
To be equal to, or match, or to surpass another.
- adj. 1
Having the same pretensions or claims; standing in competition for superiority.
rival claims or pretensions
Example sentences
- competition I like to play sport for fun, not for competition.
- enemy He betrayed us by telling the enemy where we were.
- competitor The company bought their fiercest competitor.
- adversary Fear is an adversary that one must face to move forward.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| rival | rising | |
| competition | steady | |
| enemy | steady | |
| competitor | steady | |
| adversary | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- vie1
- 5 letters
- match1, touch1, enemy3, equal2
- 6 letters
- oppose2, strive1
- 7 letters
- compete2, hostile2, contend2, emulate3, emulous
- 8 letters
- opponent3, emulator4
- 9 letters
- competing3, contender3, adversary4
- 10 letters
- competitor4, challenger3, antagonist4, antagonize4, antagonise
- 11 letters
- competition4, competitive4, belligerent4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (enemy3 = 3 syllables).