1
as in has-been
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2
as in entrant
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Recent Examples of also-ran
The past master of the universe is an economic colossus but, strategically, its civilization is an also-ran.
—
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Six years before Maye was drafted, Darnold was selected third overall, too, by an AFC East also-ran.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Sharpe, who grew up in Miami, committed to Indiana in 2022 when the Hoosiers were still considered a Big Ten also-ran.
—Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Google’s cloud business, once an also-ran, is growing steadily, thanks in part to the global rush to develop AI services and demand for compute.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Six years before Maye was drafted, Darnold was selected third overall, too, by an AFC East also-ran.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Sharpe, who grew up in Miami, committed to Indiana in 2022 when the Hoosiers were still considered a Big Ten also-ran.
—Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Google’s cloud business, once an also-ran, is growing steadily, thanks in part to the global rush to develop AI services and demand for compute.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Recent Examples of Synonyms for also-ran
Noun
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In the Seventies, he was mocked as a Vegas has-been in a jumpsuit; in the Eighties, as a cultural colonizer.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
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When her estranged daughter unexpectedly moves into their crumbling Manhattan townhouse, the TV has-been is confronted with the one role she’s spent her entire life avoiding: motherhood.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The bank’s estimate of underlying job creation sits barely above zero, trailing even the 70,000 jobs-per-month breakeven rate needed just to keep pace with new labor market entrants.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
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To enter, follow the instructions in the email and complete the entry form in full, including the entrant’s name and email address, and the name and email address of the guest.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The anti-Zionist group Kufiyas in Buchenwald announced a demonstration at Buchenwald on April 11, the anniversary of its liberation, in protest against a German court’s decision that the site could refuse entry to visitors who wear a Palestinian keffiyeh.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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One likened it to a real-life Rotisserie League, costing him a mere $1 million entry fee.—
Roger Simmons,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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