arch rival
Primary fierce competitor
An arch rival is the principal or most significant rival—the one who stands above other competitors as the chief opponent.
Arch here intensifies, as in archenemy or archvillain.
The term appears in sports, politics, and business: The two tech giants have been arch rivals for decades.
Sometimes hyphenated or written as one word.
Persistent source of ruin
- foeHostile opponent
- enemyHostile opposing party
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- opponentOne who contends against
archenemy · bête noire · sworn enemy · mortal enemy · challenger · contender · competitor · counterpart
Scheduled competitive pairing
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
grudge match · rematch · face-off · head-to-head · tournament · league · bracket · derby
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
hostility · bad blood · hatred · tension · strife · warfare · antagonism · discord
Story's moral poles
- protagonistStory's central figure
- foilDefeat a plan
- origin storyAccount of how something began
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
confrontation · showdown · comic book · sports drama · underdog story · revenge plot
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
- foeHostile opponent
- enemyHostile opposing party
- antagonistOne who opposes another
opponent · archenemy · bête noire · sworn enemy · mortal enemy · challenger · contender · competitor · counterpart · opposite number
matchup
Scheduled competitive pairing
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
finals · grudge match · rematch · face-off · head-to-head · tournament · league · bracket · derby · clash
feud
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
enmity · hostility · bad blood · hatred · tension · strife · warfare · antagonism · discord · contention
hero and villain
Story's moral poles
- protagonistStory's central figure
- foilDefeat a plan
- origin storyAccount of how something began
backstory · confrontation · showdown · comic book · sports drama · underdog story · revenge plot
arch rivalstranger
Person not yet known
acquaintance · nobody · nonentity · unknown