rivals
Foes in competition
Rivals are competitors striving for the same objective or superiority in the same domain.
The word works as both noun and verb: two athletes can be rivals, and one's skill can rival another's.
Rivalry often implies ongoing competition with a specific opponent rather than a general field: The two schools have been rivals for decades.
Something without rival is unmatched.
Those who compete against
- contendersThose seeking to win
- challengersThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- foesHostile opponents
nemeses · combatants · contestants · matchups · duelists · underdogs · favorites · heavyweights
Organized competitive event
- duelPrearranged one-on-one combat
- battleArmed military engagement
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- matchupScheduled competitive pairing
showdown · head-to-head · rematch · championship · playoff · tournament · league · derby
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
bad blood · friction · tension · antagonism · contention · bitterness · discord · strife
Open-entry competition
- crosstownSpanning a city's breadth
- divisionalOf or concerning segments
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
playoff · matchup · underdog · victory · defeat · fans · stadium · championship
Strong desire for achievement
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- driveOperate a vehicle
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
excellence · one-upmanship · climb · rise · outperform · surpass · outdo · edge
Resentful desire for another's advantages
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- begrudgeEnvy or give unwillingly
- comparisonAssessment of similarities
longing · bitterness · spite · invidious · discontent · keeping up · overshadowed
opponents
Those who compete against
- contendersThose seeking to win
- challengersThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
foes · nemeses · combatants · contestants · matchups · duelists · underdogs · favorites · heavyweights · frontrunners
contest
Organized competitive event
- duelPrearranged one-on-one combat
- battleArmed military engagement
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
matchup · showdown · head-to-head · rematch · championship · playoff · tournament · league · derby · clash
feud
Bitter ongoing rivalry
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
grudge · bad blood · friction · tension · antagonism · contention · bitterness · discord · strife · ill-will
derby
Open-entry competition
- crosstownSpanning a city's breadth
- divisionalOf or concerning segments
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
league · playoff · matchup · underdog · victory · defeat · fans · stadium · championship · rematch
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
achievement · excellence · one-upmanship · climb · rise · outperform · surpass · outdo · edge · advantage
jealousy
Resentful desire for another's advantages
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- begrudgeEnvy or give unwillingly
comparison · longing · bitterness · spite · invidious · discontent · keeping up · overshadowed
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- Sports Worldteam, coach, athlete, captain, teammates
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, opponents, contender
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, adversary, nemesis
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- things that clashcolors, patterns, stripes, plaids, prints
rivalsallies
Cooperative partners united together
partners · teammates · collaborators · colleagues · confederates
rivalsallies
Cooperative partners united together
friends · compatriots · kindred spirits · fellow travelers · sympathizers
- sibling rivalryCompetition between children sharing parents
- team rivalriesOngoing hostility between opponents
- arch rivalsFiercest, most enduring opponents
- regional rivalriesHostility between neighboring areas
- athletic rivalryCompetitive relationship in sports
- sibling rivalriesCompetition between brothers/sisters
rival, rivalry, unrivaled, rivaling, rivalled, rivalling, rivaled, archrival, rivalries