rivalry

[rahy-vuhl-ree]

noun

plural

rivalries 

1. the action, position, or relation of a rival or rivals; competition.

   rivalry between Yale and Harvard.

   Synonyms: jealousy, antagonism, opposition

2. an instance of this.

rivalry

/ ˈraɪvəlrɪ /

noun

1. the act of rivalling; competition

2. the state of being a rival or rivals

Other Word Forms

• rivalrous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rivalry¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; rival + -ry

Example Sentences

Club over country and the fiercely competitive Premier League rivalries between Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal often come up as a problem.

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Wordless interludes find Jem and Ray dancing to music or sparring as boxers, their simmering feud reduced to its core elements of rugged masculinity and sibling rivalry.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the midst of the World Cup, a remodelled WXV Global Series was unveiled to give women's rugby's top nations more freedom to carve out fixture lists and rivalries that keep interest high.

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It was a time when the bitter rivalry between the two Japanese game companies was at its fiercest.

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Israel's recent attack, which rattled Qatar and other Gulf states, reinforced Riyadh's doubts - compounded by its long-running rivalry with Iran - about relying solely on Washington.

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Related Words

• antagonism 
• clash 
• conflict 
• contest 
• duel 
• encounter 
• event 
• fight 
• jealousy 
• matchup 
• race 
• strife 
• struggle 
• tug-of-war