Rivalry is a noun describing competition or antagonism between two or more parties, typically fueled by a long-standing or intense dispute. It often implies ongoing, recognizable rivalry rather than a one-off clash, and can refer to individuals, teams, or organizations vying for advantage. The term emphasizes ongoing comparative conflict and competitive tension.
"The two universities have maintained a fierce rivalry for decades."
"In the workplace, competition between departments can become unhealthy rivalry."
"The soccer rivalry between the two cities draws large crowds every season."
"Historical rivalries shaped alliances and strategies throughout the era."
Rivalry originates from the word rival, borrowed from Old French rivale, meaning ‘one who competes against another in a feud or contest,’ which itself derives from Latin rivalis ‘of a bank or riverbank’ via a metaphorical sense of one who stands opposite or faces another. In Middle English, rival meant ‘a competitor,’ and by the 16th century the suffix -ry had shifted the sense toward the abstract noun indicating the condition of rivalry. The modern sense—ongoing competition or antagonism—coalesced over the 18th and 19th centuries as social, political, and organizational rivalries became salient in discourse. The phonology adjusted as English stress patterns stabilized, with the first syllable typically stressed in contemporary usage. First known uses appear in English texts around the 1500s, reflecting competitive dynamics in sports, politics, and personal duels, gradually expanding to a general term for any sustained opposition. Today, rivalry frequently appears in sports journalism, business strategy, and cultural discourse, carrying connotations of strategic maneuvering and persistent comparison rather than mere singular conflict.
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Words that rhyme with "Rivalry"
-ery sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say /ˈraɪ.vəl.ri/. Start with the stressed first syllable 'RYE' as a closed front diphthong, then glide into the schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with a light /ri/. Keep the /l/ clearly voiced between /v/ and /ɪ/—think RY-voh-lee, but with a quick, unstressed final /ri/. Listen to native speech for subtle timing and link between syllables.
Common errors include clustering the /v/ and /l/ too tightly, producing /rv/ without a clear /ə/ vowel after the /l/, and flattening the final /ri/ into a full syllable like /riː/. To correct: insert a light, unstressed /ə/ between /v/ and /l/ (vuh-l), maintain the initial /ˈraɪ/ with a crisp start, and shorten the final /ri/ to a quick, almost unstressed ending.
In US and UK, the initial /ˈraɪ/ remains a strong diphthong, but non-rhotic accents may reduce the final /r/ in connected speech; AU speakers often maintain a clear /r/ but may have a slightly more centralized /ə/ and quicker final /ri/. Across accents, the key differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality in the middle syllable, with some variations in vowel length and the degree of vocalic reduction in rapid speech.
The difficulty comes from the rapid, light transition between /ɪ/ and /əl/ and the need to articulate a clear /v/ followed by a smooth /əl/ before the final /ri/. The middle syllable /vəl/ requires precise lip tension, while the final /ri/ benefits from a quick, unstressed release. Practicing the three-syllable sequence slowly helps your articulators lock the correct placements, then you speed up while preserving clarity.
Yes—think of it as RYE-vəl-ree with a light, almost whispered final /ri/ rather than a hard /ri:/. Emphasize the /raɪ/ in the first syllable, drop the middle vowel quickly to a schwa, and keep the final /ri/ short and unstressed. Visualize the mouth shapes: a broad smile on /aɪ/, a relaxed middle transition for /vəl/, and a soft, trailing /ri/.
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