n. 1 competitor, opponent, contender, challenger, antagonist, adversary; opposition This year there are many formidable rivals for the championship
v. 2 compete with or against, contend with or against, oppose, challenge, contest, struggle with or against, vie with, combat, compare with, equal, measure up to, (be a) match (for) Jan's prowess at tossing the caber rivalled that of anyone else in Craigie