rivalrous

rivalrous — adjective

  • rivalrouspositive
  • more rivalrouscomparative
  • most rivalroussuperlative

1. describing a person, group, or institution that has a strong inner drive to outp

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing a person, group, or institution that has a strong inner drive to outperform others, which often creates an atmosphere of intense competition or friction.

例句

The two research labs in Tokyo were rivalrous, each racing to publish the breast-cancer discovery first.

rivalrous + plural subject, 'each racing to…' pattern

Keiko's rivalrous nature made it hard for her to celebrate a colleague's promotion.

rivalrous nature — describes a personality trait

同義詞
  • competitive

    Far more common and broader; can refer to both people and situations

  • ambitious

    Focuses on personal drive to achieve goals, not necessarily against others

  • combative

    More aggressive and hostile; implies readiness to fight

反義詞
  • cooperative

    Willing to work with others rather than against them

  • collaborative

    Actively working jointly toward shared goals

文法句型

be rivalrous with [someone/something]

become rivalrous

rivalrous [noun]

用法筆記

More formal than competitive. While competitive can describe a situation (a competitive market), rivalrous normally describes a person's disposition or a group's internal culture. Common in academic writing about psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior.

常見錯誤

❌The two stores are rivalrous on price.
✅The two stores are highly competitive on price.
💡Rivalrous describes a personality or culture, not a pricing strategy. Use 'competitive' for market behavior.
❌She is a rivalrous tennis player.
✅She is a fiercely competitive tennis player.
💡Rivalrous is uncommon for describing individual athletes; it suits groups or interpersonal dynamics better.