destructive rivalry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "destructive rivalry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a competitive relationship that causes harm or negative consequences to the parties involved. Example: "The destructive rivalry between the two companies led to unethical practices and a toxic work environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

As long as consoles have been around, there has been intense, at times destructive, rivalry.

The Guardian - Tech

Individual merit pay, she has asserted, would foster destructive rivalry within a school.

The New York Times

But his province is almost broke; he is even outpolled there by another hopeful, Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, a populist who declared Argentina's debt default when caretaker president for a week in December.Hanging over the Peronist primary will be the destructive rivalry between Mr Menem and Mr Duhalde.

The Economist

Jean Dujardin plays a Marseilles magistrate who spends the better part of a decade trying to nail a free-spending criminal kingpin (Gilles Lellouche), in a rich study of two men whose ambitions and fortunes change over the course of a long, destructive rivalry.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Under these conditions, competition is unlikely to turn into destructive interpersonal rivalry.

Harvard Business Review

Those internal divisions and rivalries have prevented Sony's many parts from working well together and have driven a destructive competition that has confused product strategy.

The New York Times

Since winning parliamentary elections last month, the leaders of Pakistan's new coalition government have shown good judgment: putting aside destructive personal rivalries and moving quickly to revive their country's moribund democracy.

The New York Times

Otherwise, a geopolitically divided and selfcentered West could slide into a historical decline reminiscent of the humiliating impotence of nineteenth-century China, while the East might be tempted to replicate the self-destructive power rivalries of twentieth-century Europe.

Huffington Post

Offset against an acoustic guitar, Williams and his excellent female foil, Lissie, dissect the destructive nature of rivalry like a couple of backwoods Buddhists.

The Guardian - Music

The NCTC operates on the same principle of "co-location," fashioned under the 2004 intelligence reforms, that pulled the branches of the armed forces into a combined structure designed to end decades of destructive and expensive rivalry.

The Washington Post

5. McNulty v Rawls Another example of the destructive power of personal rivalries – McNulty spends hours tracing tide patterns to relocate a murder into Rawls's district and Rawls refuses (for ages) to let McNulty work proper cases, despite it being his best shot at getting the murder rate down.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "destructive rivalry", ensure the context clearly illustrates the harm or negative consequences resulting from the competition, providing specific examples to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "destructive rivalry" for minor disagreements or healthy competition. Reserve it for situations where the consequences are genuinely harmful or significantly negative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "destructive rivalry" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "destructive" modifies the noun "rivalry". It describes a specific type of competitive relationship characterized by harmful or negative outcomes, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

12%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "destructive rivalry" describes a competitive relationship causing harm. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common use across news and business contexts. While not as frequent as simpler terms like "harmful competition", it effectively conveys a severe negative impact. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants its strong connotation and accurately reflects the level of damage involved. Alternatives like "toxic rivalry" or "damaging antagonism" may be suitable depending on the nuance you want to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful competition

Replaces "rivalry" with a more general term for competition, emphasizing the negative impact.

toxic rivalry

Uses a more contemporary term to describe the poisonous and unhealthy nature of the rivalry.

damaging antagonism

Substitutes both words to highlight the actively hostile nature of the relationship and its detrimental effects.

detrimental conflict

Focuses on the conflicting aspect and the harm it causes, simplifying the original phrase.

pernicious contention

Uses more formal vocabulary to underscore the subtly harmful and argumentative nature of the rivalry.

corrosive competitiveness

Emphasizes how the rivalry gradually degrades and harms the involved parties.

ruinous competition

Stresses the disastrous and destructive potential of the competitive environment.

counterproductive competition

Highlights the ineffectiveness and wastefulness of the competitive dynamic.

fierce but harmful competition

Highlights that harmful competition can occur even with high intensity and does not always produce progress.

negative competitive dynamic

Describes the adverse and impacting energy of the competitive environment.

FAQs

What does "destructive rivalry" mean?

"Destructive rivalry" refers to a competitive relationship that causes harm, damage, or negative consequences to the parties involved or their environment. It goes beyond healthy competition and results in adverse outcomes.

How can I use "destructive rivalry" in a sentence?

You might say, "The "destructive rivalry" between the two companies led to unethical practices." Always ensure the context supports the gravity implied by the phrase.

What are some alternatives to "destructive rivalry"?

Consider using phrases like "harmful competition", "toxic rivalry", or "damaging antagonism" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "destructive rivalry" always a bad thing?

While competition can sometimes spur innovation, a "destructive rivalry" is inherently negative. The "destructive" modifier indicates that the negative consequences outweigh any potential benefits.