Compete
Compete verb - To engage in a contest.
Usage example: prizefighters competing for the world heavyweight championship
Rival is a synonym for compete in contest topic. In some cases you can use "Rival" instead a verb "Compete", when it comes to topics like conflict, contend, go up against in contest. popular alternative
Rival
Rival verb - To engage in a contest.
Usage example: two longtime friends who have rivaled for the same things at every stage of their lives
Compete is a synonym for rival in conflict topic. You can use "Compete" instead a verb "Rival", if it concerns topics such as contest, oppose. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| enemies | compete enemies | rival enemies |
Both words in one sentence
- An Archie Comics story had Jughead compete against a member of a rival gang in a hamburger-eating contest at Pop's chocolate shop.
Source: Eating Contest - Roger did this deliberately because he thought the race would be more interested if he had a rival to compete against.
Source: The Rival / Western Animation - He later gained another rival in rich kid, Eustace Strych, possibly to give Jimmy someone else to compete against after he got a Relationship Upgrade with Cindy.
Source: The Rival / Western Animation
Cite this Source
Rival and Compete. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/compete/rival
Compete & Rival. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/compete/rival>.
Rival or Compete. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/compete/rival.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "compete" and "rival" have occurred on timeline