one-upmanship
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Equally unforgettable has been the relentless one-upmanship between the game’s brightest stars at this World Cup.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
That kind of provocative behavior will lead to years, even a lifetime, of one-upmanship, backbiting and behind-the-scenes maneuvers.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2025
The skyscape of this city is peppered with examples of architectural “I’ll go higher still” one-upmanship.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2024
A mini succession drama unfolds, but like the HBO series on the subject, it’s impossible to separate corporate one-upmanship from family dysfunction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
I laughed at the thought of Mrs. Dorn keeping a tally of everything her neighbors purchased, and tried not to be jealous that Audrey got a car because of a game of wealthy one-upmanship.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
