1
as in has-been
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2
as in entrant
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Recent Examples of also-ran
The thinktank session was held at the rambling 40-acre Mettawa estate of another presidential also-ran, Adlai Stevenson II.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
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
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
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
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
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 technology is also lowering barriers for new entrants.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
11 June 2026
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Because two issuers hold roughly 80% of the market, a credible entrant with real distribution can take share fast, since most users simply hold whichever compliant dollar token their app or exchange defaults to.—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The City Council member made a surprise late entry into the mayor’s race, the last of the major candidates to file for the primary.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not take part in this summer’s World Cup after he was denied entry into the United States, FIFA confirmed on Monday.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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