What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
challenger
Example
The young athlete emerged as a strong challenger in the tennis tournament. [challenger: noun]
Example
The new technology poses a challenger to traditional methods of communication. [challenger: noun]
rival
Example
The two companies are fierce rivals in the smartphone market. [rivals: noun]
Example
The soccer teams have been rivals for years, always competing for the championship. [rivals: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rival is more commonly used than challenger in everyday language. Rival is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while challenger is less common and often used in specific contexts like sports or challenges to the status quo.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between challenger and rival?
While challenger is typically associated with a more formal tone, rival is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
