rival
One who contends
A rival is someone competing for the same goal or position—in sports, business, romance, or any arena where only one can win.
The word works as noun, adjective, or verb: rival teams, rival claims, Nothing rivals her cooking.
Rivals may be enemies, but the word emphasizes competition more than hostility.
They've been rivals since high school.
Hostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- opponentOne who contends against
hostile · enmity · animosity · vendetta · feud · opposition · confrontation · friction
One who contends against
- contenderOne competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- contestantCompetition participant
- counterpartCorresponding person or thing
head-to-head · matchup · race · tournament · playoffs · finals · bracket · underdog
Resentful longing for another's
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- spitePetty malicious intent
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
grudge · begrudge · green-eyed · comparison · insecurity · emulation · longing · overshadow
Identical in amount
- matchGame between opponents
- counterpartCorresponding person or thing
- contemporaryOf the present age
- equivalentSame in value or function
comparable · parallel · like · fellow · coequal · compeer · worthy · formidable
enemy
Hostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- antagonistOne who opposes another
opponent · hostile · enmity · animosity · vendetta · feud · opposition · confrontation · friction · tension
opponent
One who contends against
- contenderOne competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- contestantCompetition participant
counterpart · head-to-head · matchup · race · tournament · playoffs · finals · bracket · underdog · favorite
envy
Resentful longing for another's
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- spitePetty malicious intent
bitterness · grudge · begrudge · green-eyed · comparison · insecurity · emulation · longing · overshadow · outshine
equal
Identical in amount
- matchGame between opponents
- counterpartCorresponding person or thing
- contemporaryOf the present age
equivalent · comparable · parallel · like · fellow · coequal · compeer · worthy · formidable · respected
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- pursuitAct of chasing something
vying · jockeying · positioning · advancement · supremacy · dominance · throne · crown · status · prestige
respect
Regard with honor
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
honor · handshake · mutual · cordial · friendly · amicable · healthy · good-natured · spirited · clean
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
- challengersunderdog, contender, opponent, competitor, adversary
- character archetypeshero, villain, mentor, sidekick, protagonist
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, opponents, contender
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- sibling rivalryCompetition between children sharing parents
- river channelPath carved by flow
- the riverLarge natural stream
- holy riverReligiously venerated waterway
- river tubingRecreational waterway floating
- lazy riverGentle artificial waterway
river, rivalry, rivals, unrivaled, rivulet, rivaling, rivalled, rivalling, rivaled