competition

noun

ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən How to pronounce competition (audio)
Definition of competitionnext
1
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a competition between two fierce football rivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in contestant
one who strives for the same thing as another tried to analyze his major competition in the tennis tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the intense competition for bragging rights to being the city's best French restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of competition But these initial efforts largely foundered, failing to establish sufficient trading interest or a deep retail market, in part due to competition from already-liquid options markets. — Bruce Blythe, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026 Novo, whose shares have plummeted over the past two years amid intensifying competition in the anti-obesity space, is under pressure to find a successor to its semaglutide franchise, which includes mega-blockbusters Wegovy and Ozempic. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 This year’s schedule includes Gala and Signature Screenings, Special Presentations, Professional and Student competition films, the Docs to Watch and Pixels and Pencils screening series and the Behind Their Lens and Below the Line panel series. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026 She is also set to appear in Netflix’s competition series Outside, which premiered this month from British creator group the Sidemen. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for competition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competition
  1. tournament
  2. contestant
  3. rivalry
  4. event
  5. competitor
  6. battle
  7. game
  8. contender
Noun
  • Indian cricketers have avoided handshakes with Pakistan players, and have refused to accept the trophy and medals from a Pakistani official at more than one tournament.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 manga laid the groundwork for some of the genre's most enduring tropes (gender switching, horny old guys, tournaments), and this is the second anime adaptation, this time from Studio MAPPA.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of tournament
Noun
  • Working in pairs, the contestants have only basic tools and limited food.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • After three months of mandatory surgeries, dental work, starvation, and squats, the contestants see their reflections for the first time during a dramatic onscreen reveal.
    — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, who ripped off their rivalry bit from Fred Allen and Jack Benny!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • At least for one day, one of the league’s great rivalries returns — with Kansas City remaining undefeated into its early bye.
    — Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivalry
Noun
  • Forty years later, adult Calvin (Josh Hartnett) is still haunted by the event.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Each of the six main suspects get their chance to give their version of events on the day of Jodie’s death, effectively supplying their own alibis.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • The Cook Mixer then selects which competitors will step forward and take on the challenge.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Can community banks effectively compete with outsized competitors offering aggressive rates and new account incentives?
    — Brian Reilly, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • Chinese media reported that PLA forces deployed Type 99A main battle tanks alongside drones, uncrewed ground vehicles and helicopters.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Alabama and Mississippi State battle, and Underdog is offering new users a chance to use promo code FOXNEWS to earn up to $100 in bonus bets on a $5 wager.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of battle
Noun
  • As the day winds down, get cozy in the living room for a game of cards and a glass of South African wine, or watch the sun set from the stone terrace.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Even Jeff, post-premiere, has been a delight, just kind of letting the game play out and not foisting metaphors upon us at Tribal Council.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of game
Noun
  • These five rising, behind-the-scenes maestros have worked on major hits for such likely 2027 contenders as Noah Kahan, Ariana Grande and Rosalía — and could be first-time nominees in the category.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Boehringer has pitched the medicine as a way to help patients lose fat while preserving muscle, but without an edge, the drug becomes just one more contender in an increasingly crowded market dominated by Eli Lilly and Novo.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contender

Browse Nearby Words

competing
competition
competitions
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Cite this Entry

“Competition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competition. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on competition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about competition

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