vicious competition for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vicious competition for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a highly aggressive or ruthless rivalry between individuals or organizations striving for the same goal or resource. Example: "In the tech industry, there is often vicious competition for market share among leading companies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

People struggled with hunger and a vicious competition for survival.

The Economist

Many left their rural hometowns for the more prosperous cities only to face vicious competition for scarce white-collar jobs.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Financial distress on the part of many households, ongoing labor market weakness and vicious competition from an enormous overhang of existing homes all point to a very tough slog for home builders in the months and quarters ahead," Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist for MFR Inc., said.

The New York Times

"Financial distress on the part of many households, ongoing labor market weakness and vicious competition from an enormous overhang of existing homes all point to a very tough slog for home builders in the months and quarters ahead," said Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist for MFR Inc.

The New York Times

Asked by a reporter if legislators had complained to him about the vicious competition between states for businesses, and the billions of dollars localities have conceded in tax revenue to entice their presence, he answered, "I really think that's a states-rights issue..

Huffington Post

The problem for long-distance carriers is vicious competition.

Forbes

Towns are becoming depopulated due to violent killings, for instance, in Monterrey, where two drug mafias are locked in vicious competition.

Huffington Post

The fight over the bill illustrates the often vicious competition between caste, religion, ethnicity and gender over who will benefit most from laws designed to reduce inequality.

The New York Times

In addition, the enterprises in this industry are dispersed and have little industrial cohesion, and face severe and vicious competition.

Urban Rail Transit

Upstart e-commerce, media and telecommunications companies have a particularly high bar because of vicious competition.

Forbes

Don't think of sports as a vicious competition.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To highlight the intensity of a competitive environment, pair "vicious competition for" with specific examples of the actions or strategies employed by competitors.

Common error

Avoid using "vicious competition for" when describing ordinary or friendly competition. This phrase implies a severe and potentially unethical level of rivalry. Consider alternatives like "strong competition" or "healthy competition" when the situation is less extreme.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vicious competition for" functions as a noun phrase, where "vicious" modifies "competition", and "for" introduces the object of the competition. Ludwig AI confirms its use in describing intense rivalries over resources or opportunities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vicious competition for" is a phrase used to describe an intense and often ruthless rivalry, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct and generally acceptable, it's important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the competition is truly severe. Alternatives like "fierce rivalry for" or "intense struggle for" may be more appropriate in less extreme cases. The relatively uncommon usage suggests careful consideration should be given before employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cutthroat competition for

Replaces "vicious" with "cutthroat", emphasizing ruthless intensity.

fierce rivalry for

Substitutes "competition" with "rivalry", highlighting the antagonistic nature of the competition.

intense struggle for

Uses "struggle" instead of "competition", suggesting a difficult and prolonged effort.

relentless battle for

Emphasizes the continuous and unyielding nature of the competition.

dog-eat-dog world of

Replaces "vicious competition" with a more metaphorical and idiomatic expression.

brutal contest for

Substitutes "vicious" with "brutal", underscoring the harshness of the competition.

aggressive vying for

Replaces competition with a more active and intentional "vyin".

ruthless pursuit of

Focuses on the determined and unmerciful chasing of a goal or prize.

unscrupulous scramble for

Highlights the unethical tactics that may be employed in the competition.

hyper-competitive environment for

Uses a more formal and analytical tone to describe the competitive situation.

FAQs

What does "vicious competition for" mean?

The phrase "vicious competition for" describes a situation where individuals or groups are engaged in an extremely intense, ruthless, and often unethical rivalry to obtain something that is desired by many.

What are some alternatives to "vicious competition for"?

You can use alternatives like "fierce rivalry for", "intense struggle for", or "cutthroat competition for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How can I use "vicious competition for" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The tech industry is characterized by a "vicious competition for" talent" or "There is "vicious competition for" resources in the drought-stricken region".

Is "vicious competition for" a formal or informal expression?

"Vicious competition for" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in news reports and analytical writing where a strong and negative competitive environment is being described.