besting
Coming out ahead
Besting is defeating or outperforming someone, from the verb best meaning to get the better of: After besting her opponent in the semifinals, she advanced to the championship.
The word implies superiority in a contest or comparison rather than destruction—you best a rival, not an enemy.
Surpassing in performance
- outperformingDoing better than others
- eclipsingObscuring by surpassing
- transcendingExceeding normal bounds
- exceedingGoing beyond limits
overshadowing · outstripping · outpacing · topping · outclassing · outshining · upstaging · outdistancing
Defeating and taking control
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
- prevailingMost common or accepted
- surmountingPrevailing over difficulties
- triumphingAchieving a major victory
overpowering · subduing · mastering · dominating · toppling · unseating · dethroning · humbling
Overcoming in competition
- outmatchingExceeding in competition
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- opponentOne who contends against
- contestOrganized competitive event
matchup · tournament · duel · bout · clash · showdown · face-off · head-to-head
Persistent source of ruin
- archrivalPrincipal ongoing opponent
- grudge matchContest to settle scores
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- antagonistOne who opposes another
competition · contender · adversary · bitter rival · one-upmanship · vendetta · competitive edge
outdoing
Surpassing in performance
- outperformingDoing better than others
- eclipsingObscuring by surpassing
- transcendingExceeding normal bounds
exceeding · overshadowing · outstripping · outpacing · topping · outclassing · outshining · upstaging · outdistancing · trumping
conquering
Defeating and taking control
- vanquishingDefeating completely in battle
- prevailingMost common or accepted
- surmountingPrevailing over difficulties
triumphing · overpowering · subduing · mastering · dominating · toppling · unseating · dethroning · humbling · routing
defeating
Overcoming in competition
- outmatchingExceeding in competition
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- opponentOne who contends against
contest · matchup · tournament · duel · bout · clash · showdown · face-off · head-to-head · underdog
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
- archrivalPrincipal ongoing opponent
- grudge matchContest to settle scores
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
antagonist · competition · contender · adversary · bitter rival · one-upmanship · vendetta · competitive edge
- competitivenessrivalry, vying, contending, outdoing, outperforming
- outperformingsurpassing, exceeding, excelling, outperforming, outdoing
- achievementsaccomplishment, achievement, accomplishments, achievements, triumph