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Glite Dictionary
archrival

archrival

6 4.9
The main opponent someone or a team competes with for a long time
  • noun
  • /ˈɑrkˌraɪvəl/
translation icon : archirrival
  • CSKA Moscow has scored two unanswered goals to get the better of archrivals Spartak in the match often called the Russian SuperClasico.
  • archrivals India and Pakistan
  • India's archrival

Some people say he's an archrival, A nemesis or a nemesis, they say.

Examples

  • The Pac-12 South title also will be on the line this afternoon when archrivals UCLA and USC tangle.

    Blog text (17)

  • Dolphins beat up on their archrival, the New York Jets, 30-9.

    Blog text (6)

  • Every little criticism, even if the person is your archrival, their criticism is built on something.

  • Second, Moscow's threat was condemned not only by the Taliban, but by its archrival, the Northern Alliance.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The measures that I recommend, however, could set in motion a process of accommodation with Pakistan's archrival India, in particular in relation to Kashmir.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Now they're just one game away from going all the way to the Harvest Cup, and that's going to be a tough one, because they're up against their old archrivals, the Kitimat Tigers.

    MVP: Most Valuable Primate (2000)

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins faced their archrival, the Washington Capitals, in the highly anticipated match.

  • Chicago celebrated after defeating their archrivals, the Pistons, in the decisive playoff series this year.

  • The Ganders will play against their longtime archrival, Sterling, this Friday night in a crucial game.

Synonyms

competitor
vsarchrival
298 2.4

A person, team, or company that tries to beat others in contests and business

is the foremost long-term contender who matters most in a prolonged struggle
rival
vsarchrival
292 2.7

A person or group that competes with another for the same goal

is the most important long-term competitor rather than any ordinary contender
adversary
vsarchrival
152 6.1

A person, team or group that is against you

is the chief opposing party in long competition rather than general opposition
nemesis
vsarchrival
45 8.1

A powerful enemy or thing that causes someone's defeat

is the main adversary in long contests, not necessarily causing downfall
archenemy
vsarchrival
8 4.8

A person who is someone's main enemy in a long rivalry

is the chief competitor in ongoing contests rather than a personal foe
arch-nemesis
vsarchrival
5 7.8

A person's main enemy who often opposes them

is the most important opponent in a long competition rather than personal hatred
archfoe
vsarchrival
8.8

The main enemy someone has for a long time

is the top opposing group in sustained competition rather than pure hostility
opponent
vsarchrival
3.4

On the other side in a fight, game, or argument

is the principal opposing force across years rather than a single match

How Important

archrival
6 4.9
rival
292 2.7

Surface Forms

archrival singular
archrivals plural

Morphology

archrival = rival (transparent) = arch + rival

The prefix 'arch-' clearly indicates a primary or chief rival, making the meaning derivable from 'rival'.

Etymology

The word archrival has the part arch- meaning 'main' or 'chief', the same arch- you see in archenemy and archbishop, and rival, which means 'opponent'. So an archrival is your main or most important opponent in a long competition.