Good rival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Good rival" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a competitor who is respected for their skills or abilities in a particular field or context. Example: "In the world of chess, I consider him a good rival, always pushing me to improve my game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Where there is nothing to choose between two equally good rival theories we accept neither in circumstances such as these, we don't accept both.

SEP

Additionally, his design was designed to look like the Tanuki since Kishimoto thought that it would make him a good rival for Naruto's Nine-tailed Demon Fox since several parts from the Shukaku were considered by Kishimoto to be opposite ones from the Demon Fox.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Four points today was crucial for us and it sets us up well for next week and our massive game against our good rivals Wasps".

BBC

There are clearly some very good rivals when it comes to hardware, but iTunes seems to have weathered the onslaught from various foes over the years and now Amazon has launched their mp3 into Beta.

TechCrunch

Composer Alan Menken and songwriters Howard Ashman and Tim Rice were praised for creating a soundtrack that is "consistently good, rivaling the best of Disney's other animated musicals from the '90s".

Wikipedia

Unilever is to go head-to-head with its arch consumer goods rival Procter & Gamble in the male shaving market after buying Dollar Shave Club for an estimated $1bn£759m9m).

The Guardian - Business

In June, French magazine Challenges reported that Clarins management had informed employee representatives of interest from PPR, its luxury goods rival LVMH and beauty specialist L'Oreal.

Forbes

Consumer-goods rival Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Harpic surface cleaner and air freshener Air Wick, reported a 20% rise in sales for the second quarter last month.

Forbes

The company has benefitted from the demise of its main electrical goods rival Comet, which closed in the run up to Christmas a year ago.

BBC

The gala was sponsored by Louis Vuitton, which makes sense, since crosstown museum LACMA has luxury goods rival Gucci as its patron.

Los Angeles Times

So are luxury-goods rivals LVMH and Kering, which owns Balenciaga.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "good rival" to acknowledge the positive influence of competition, highlighting respect and mutual benefit.

Common error

Avoid using "good rival" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or nuanced language may be preferred. Consider alternatives like "worthy competitor" or "formidable adversary" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good rival" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'good' modifies the noun 'rival'. It is used to describe a competitor who inspires improvement, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "good rival" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase denoting a competitor who inspires positive growth. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, though it is a relatively rare expression. It is suitable for neutral contexts, conveying respect and appreciation for the beneficial challenges posed by a competitor. Alternatives include "worthy opponent" and "formidable competitor". While versatile, avoid overuse in overly formal writing. It is important to appreciate the positive dynamic of a "good rival" in any competitive setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Worthy opponent

Emphasizes the respect and challenge presented by the rival.

Formidable competitor

Highlights the strength and skill of the rival.

Respected adversary

Focuses on the mutual respect between competitors.

Strong contender

Highlights the rival's ability to challenge for victory.

Tough competitor

Indicates the difficulty in competing against the rival.

Valuable antagonist

Highlights the positive impact of having a rival.

Beneficial rival

Focuses on the advantages gained from the rivalry.

Skilled opponent

Emphasizes the high level of skill possessed by the rival.

Talented adversary

Highlights the natural talent of the rival.

Excellent competitor

Expresses a general positive assessment of the rival.

FAQs

How to use "good rival" in a sentence?

You can use "good rival" to describe someone who pushes you to improve, such as, "In the world of chess, I consider him a "good rival", always pushing me to improve my game".

What can I say instead of "good rival"?

You can use alternatives like "worthy opponent", "formidable competitor", or "respected adversary" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "good rival" or "great rival"?

Both "good rival" and "great rival" are grammatically correct, but "good rival" implies a more balanced and respectful competition, while "great rival" emphasizes the significance or impact of the rivalry.

What's the difference between "good rival" and "arch-rival"?

"Good rival" implies a positive and respectful competitive relationship, while "arch-rival" suggests a more intense, long-standing, and often negative rivalry.