one-upmanship
Always topping others
One-upmanship is the art of gaining advantage over others through subtle put-downs, competitive boasting, or always having a better story.
The term implies a game-like quality to social rivalry—each move designed to establish superiority: His one-upmanship was exhausting; every conversation became a contest.
The word suggests the behavior is calculated rather than spontaneous.
Excessive self-praise
- swaggerConfident, boastful manner
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- self-promotionPublicizing one's own merits
gloating · vaunting · braggadocio · puffery · name-dropping · humble-brag · peacocking · flaunting
Ongoing contest between opponents
- gamesmanshipWinning without cheating outright
- contestOrganized competitive event
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
outdo · outperform · outshine · triumph · winning · edge · advantage · excel
One's relative position
- egoOne's self-image
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
- pettinessFocus on insignificant matters
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
envy · jealousy · resentment · snobbery · prestige · climbing · jockeying · posturing
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
sparring · jousting · tit-for-tat · escalation · needling · goading · baiting · provocation
Defeat through superior tactics
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
guile · machination · manipulation · scheming · craftiness · maneuvering · calculated · tactical
bragging
Excessive self-praise
- swaggerConfident, boastful manner
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
self-promotion · gloating · vaunting · braggadocio · puffery · name-dropping · humble-brag · peacocking · flaunting · showing-off
rivalry
Ongoing contest between opponents
- gamesmanshipWinning without cheating outright
- contestOrganized competitive event
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
superiority · outdo · outperform · outshine · triumph · winning · edge · advantage · excel · best
status
One's relative position
insecurity · envy · jealousy · resentment · snobbery · prestige · climbing · jockeying · posturing · comparison
feud
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
opposition · sparring · jousting · tit-for-tat · escalation · needling · goading · baiting · provocation · needling
outmaneuver
Defeat through superior tactics
finesse · guile · machination · manipulation · scheming · craftiness · maneuvering · calculated · tactical · shrewdness
- bad behaviorcheating, stealing, lying, greed, selfishness
- competitivenessrivalry, vying, contending, outdoing, outperforming
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, bitterness
- sibling rivalrybickering, fighting, arguing, teasing, tattling
- sore winner behaviorbragging, boasting, gloating, taunting, rubbing it in
- market rivalryrivalry, rivals, competitors, competition, price war
one-upmanshipcooperation
Joint action toward shared aims
collaboration · mutual support · teamwork · solidarity · camaraderie
one-upmanshiphumility
Freedom from arrogance
modesty · graciousness · magnanimity · self-effacement · giving credit
one-upmanshipgood sportsmanship
Honorable conduct in competition
graciousness · class · dignity · magnanimity · noblesse oblige
manage, surpass, outwit, manuscript, outsmart, outplay, one-up, upmanship