rivalry

[rahy-vuhl-ree]

See more synonyms for rivalry on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ri·val·ries.

the action, position, or relation of a rival or rivals; competition: rivalry between Yale and Harvard.
an instance of this.

Origin of rivalry

First recorded in 1590–1600; rival + -ry

Synonyms for rivalry

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1. opposition, antagonism; jealousy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for rivalry

fight, duel, clash, antagonism, contest, jealousy, strife, race, struggle, encounter, event, conflict, tug-of-war, matchup, sport, engagement, tournament, game, emulation, opposition

Examples from the Web for rivalry

Contemporary Examples of rivalry

Making this scenario more complicated is the rivalry between al Qaeda and ISIS.
A Gift to the Jihadis: The Unseen Airport Security Threat
Clive Irving
December 27, 2014
For coinosseuers of literature, the sagas stories of family struggles, rivalry, and conflict rank with Homer and Shakespeare.
Want to Write a Book? Go to Iceland
Adam LeBor
May 26, 2014
These relationships were rarely easy, and often colored by rivalry and resentment.
Mark Twain, Writing Coach and Role Model
Ben Tarnoff
April 19, 2014
The bitter rivalry is about as bitter as any rivalry involving Canada can be.
#LoserKeepsBieber Means Justin’s Probably Coming to America
Amy Zimmerman
February 22, 2014
Sean Hannity versus Michael Savage—these two conservative radio hosts have recently ratchet up their rivalry.
George Zimmerman Wants to Profit Off Trayvon Martin’s Death
Dean Obeidallah
February 5, 2014

Historical Examples of rivalry

Then their rivalry shall be not a curse, but a blessing to this land of England.
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle
He could have no fear of such a rivalry, however unpleasant at the moment!
Salted With Fire
George MacDonald
Well, I'll relieve your lordship, as you have relieved me, from all fear of rivalry.
Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848
Various
By the good people that taught you to think our rivalry blood-red.
Poems
William D. Howells
It was because he who commanded the vessel was so superior as to find in her no rivalry.
The Pirate and The Three Cutters
Frederick Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for rivalry

rivalry

noun plural -ries

the act of rivalling; competition
the state of being a rival or rivals

Derived Formsrivalrous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rivalry

1590s; from rival + -ry. Shakespeare has rivality ("Antony and Cleopatra"), but from the secondary sense of the root word and meaning "partnership, equality in rank."

rivalry in Medicine

rivalry

[rī′vəl-rē]

The state or condition of competition or antagonism.