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
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Recent Examples of candidate
To win, Cuomo likely needs to attract voters currently supporting Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
—
Terry Collins, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, has received a significant boost from early voting returns, data suggests.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Takaichi, 64, defeated four other candidates to succeed outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned in September after poor election results, as leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2025
According to a recent report in The Athletic, Colorado has interviewed at least three candidates: Toronto Blue Jays executive and former Houston Astros general manager James Click, Kansas City Royals assistant GM Scott Sharp, and Cleveland Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for candidate
Terry Collins, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, has received a significant boost from early voting returns, data suggests.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Takaichi, 64, defeated four other candidates to succeed outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned in September after poor election results, as leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2025
According to a recent report in The Athletic, Colorado has interviewed at least three candidates: Toronto Blue Jays executive and former Houston Astros general manager James Click, Kansas City Royals assistant GM Scott Sharp, and Cleveland Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for candidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidate
Noun
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While Mounds View has had several retail applicants looking to sell cannabis, none currently operate in the city.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
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Only three specific classes of visa holders will be eligible for CDLs under the new rules and states must verify an applicant’s immigration status in a federal database.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The new product casts OpenAI as a contender in this generation’s brewing browser wars.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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Since debuting at the Venice Film Festival, the film has been tapped as a major Oscar contender.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Candidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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