Synonyms of candidate

candidate

noun

ˈkan-də-ˌdāt 

as in applicant

one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award

each candidate for town council was allowed to speak at the candidates' forum

Synonyms & Similar Words

• applicant
• contender
• nominee
• campaigner
• competitor
• aspirant
• prospect
• hopeful
• seeker
• contestant
• expectant
• entry
• qualifier
• entrant
• applier
• favorite
• claimant
• crown prince
• pretender
• favorite son
• spoiler
• running mate
• stalking horse
• dark horse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incumbent
• officeholder
• awardee
• noncandidate
• inductee
• honoree
• dropout

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of candidate

An eight-figure annual salary — with signing bonus money as part of the contract structure — appears certain for Gauthier, who could be a perennial 30-goal candidate or better. — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Two-dimensional perovskites are often seen as leading candidates for future LEDs and solar cells because their layered structure can be customized molecule by molecule. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026

As the youngest candidate in the race, Fortune is battling against the 47-year-old Bronin and the 44-year-old Gilchrest. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Phannarai Inkun, of Thailand, led the Pledge of Allegiance for her cohort of fellow citizenship candidates. — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

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