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
The inclusion of Moderna’s vaccine among the candidates under review has also renewed attention on whether mRNA technologies could eventually help close longstanding gaps in preparedness for rarer Ebola species.
—
Paul Adepoju, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
The best-case scenario for Democrats may instead be for Republicans to stay home in November, and Cornyn looks like the candidate who is more likely to leave them disengaged.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Advertisement Two more moderate candidates, state senator Sharif Street and pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford, split votes and struggled to catch fire.
—Julia Terruso, Time, 20 May 2026
After all, a president's approval rating is the single most reliable predictor of how his party's candidates will fare in midterm elections.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for candidate
Paul Adepoju, Scientific American, 20 May 2026
The best-case scenario for Democrats may instead be for Republicans to stay home in November, and Cornyn looks like the candidate who is more likely to leave them disengaged.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Advertisement Two more moderate candidates, state senator Sharif Street and pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford, split votes and struggled to catch fire.
—Julia Terruso, Time, 20 May 2026
After all, a president's approval rating is the single most reliable predictor of how his party's candidates will fare in midterm elections.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for candidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidate
Noun
-
Importing higher-paying—and oftentimes higher-achieving—students benefits a school during boom times, when universities have seemingly infinite choice among applicants.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
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Rick Freedman, a Miami Beach native and a Kiwanis member since 1995, said the scholarship applicants’ stories resonated with him because of how well the students handled challenges in their lives, and persevered.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Barring an Eric Swalwell-style blow-up, the top three — Becerra, Steyer and Hilton — are really the only true contenders.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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King is more likely to be a lock for the practice squad than a legitimate contender for the 53-man roster entering OTAs.—
Mike Kaye
Updated May 14,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Candidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidate. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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