aspirants

noun

plural of aspirant
as in candidates
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award a debate between the two aspirants for the highest office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aspirants Some people defended Altman’s business acumen and dismissed his rivals, especially Sutskever and Amodei, as failed aspirants to his throne. — Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 That neutrality could come at a cost, some experts say, should the two GOP aspirants prevail. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 This time around, absent Wilson or other prominent Black aspirants, those voters would be likely to vote for Johnson. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 Many aspirants, like Yusuf, consider jars of skin lightening cream to be essential, along with access to exclusive gyms and going to the right hair salon. — Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, both incumbent members of Congress and aspirants will be running in districts that have been radically gerrymandered to shrink Republicans’ tiny delegation even more, as Democrats seek to regain control of Congress. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025 There are also seven private villas—airy, palatial, ideal for families or James Bond aspirants—along with an expansion set to be unveiled in 2026. — David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025 Both men reflect a cohort of youthful African aspirants aiming to ride popular disenchantments with governments to high office. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aspirants
  1. candidates
  2. applicants
  3. contenders
Noun
  • The commission now appears poised to rule next month that the Georgia Republican Assembly and its affiliated political action committee failed to property disclose more than $187,000 in spending to support numerous candidates in recent years.
    — David Wickert, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Stevens benefited from tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including the largest investment in a race ever from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supports pro-Israel candidates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of candidates
Noun
  • Advocates say the strategy encourages more diverse applicants, like first-generation students, by removing barriers to entry and boosting awareness of the often-generous scholarships available at private institutions.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This signals future applicants should consider test preparation.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of applicants
Noun
  • Once the world of soccer is no longer in the immediate wake of the equity venture controversy, more contenders could emerge.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Stanek has spent enough time around the league to understand why contenders value experienced bullpen arms on short-term contracts and the Cardinals might have originally picked him up with the hopes of moving him at this point.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of contenders

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Cite this Entry

“Aspirants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aspirants. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on aspirants

Nglish: Translation of aspirants for Spanish Speakers

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