archrival
Primary competitive foe
An archrival is your chief rival—the one opponent who stands above all others in intensity or importance.
The prefix arch- means principal or most extreme: Batman's archrival is the Joker.
Sports teams, businesses, and nations all have archrivals.
The relationship implies ongoing competition, often with personal animosity: The two senators had been archrivals for decades.
Persistent source of ruin
- archenemyPrincipal antagonist
- foeHostile opponent
- enemyHostile opposing party
- antagonistOne who opposes another
opponent · counterpart · bane · threat · menace · tormentor · opposite number · sworn enemy
Scheduled competitive pairing
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- head-to-headIn direct confrontation
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
duel · contest · battle · confrontation · championship game · finals · playoff · derby
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
tension · discord · bad blood · vendetta · grudge · hatred · bitterness · strife
Open-entry competition
- home-and-homeMatched games, alternating sites
- bragging rightsInformal claim to superiority
- fansArdent admirers or coolers
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
antagonist · opponent · counterpart · bane · threat · menace · tormentor · opposite number · sworn enemy · bitter enemy
matchup
Scheduled competitive pairing
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- head-to-headIn direct confrontation
clash · duel · contest · battle · confrontation · championship game · finals · playoff · derby · grudge match
feud
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
friction · tension · discord · bad blood · vendetta · grudge · hatred · bitterness · strife · opposition
derby
Open-entry competition
- home-and-homeMatched games, alternating sites
- bragging rightsInformal claim to superiority
- fansArdent admirers or coolers
stadium · underdog · upset · streak · dominance · coach · scoreboard
- sports rivalriesderby, grudge match
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- rivalsopponent, adversary, competitor, foe, enemy
- Sports Rivalrygrudge match, bragging rights, derby, showdown, classic match
- opponentsopponent, adversary, foe, enemy, challenger
archrivalally
Supportive partner
best friend · partner · collaborator · teammate · supporter
archrivalnobody
Inconsequential person
bystander · neutral party · nonentity · irrelevance · stranger