as in applicants
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 candidates
Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL's Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh's visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.
—
Stephen Whyno, Arkansas Online, 16 Jan. 2026
Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh’s visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
All candidates who accept a position will begin paid training immediately at one of Wegmans’ stores in the Triangle region in Cary, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wake Forest.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
Qualifying for public financing requires gubernatorial candidates to raise at least $250,000 in donations ranging from $5 to $250.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
Twenty-two candidates, including 17 Republicans, qualified for the March 10 special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress, Tia Mitchell reports.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Jan. 2026
The Falcons could have talked to any of those candidates last week.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Recently, Briller says she's seen an uptick in candidates sharing controversial or overly negative opinions on LinkedIn.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The Dallas Cowboys have requested to interview three candidates for their defensive coordinator opening, according to a report from ESPN’s Todd Archer.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Stephen Whyno, Arkansas Online, 16 Jan. 2026
Interviewing Raheem Morris and Antonio Pierce satisfied the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirements for minority or female candidates, and Harbaugh’s visit to northern New Jersey paved the way to make a hire before any of the more than half-dozen teams with a vacancy.
—Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
All candidates who accept a position will begin paid training immediately at one of Wegmans’ stores in the Triangle region in Cary, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wake Forest.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
Qualifying for public financing requires gubernatorial candidates to raise at least $250,000 in donations ranging from $5 to $250.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
Twenty-two candidates, including 17 Republicans, qualified for the March 10 special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress, Tia Mitchell reports.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 15 Jan. 2026
The Falcons could have talked to any of those candidates last week.
—Josh Kendall, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Recently, Briller says she's seen an uptick in candidates sharing controversial or overly negative opinions on LinkedIn.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
The Dallas Cowboys have requested to interview three candidates for their defensive coordinator opening, according to a report from ESPN’s Todd Archer.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidates
Noun
-
The first group conducts the initial review, the second votes on approval or denial, and the third notifies applicants of rejections, offering alternative plate options when needed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
To qualify, applicants must be able to pass a detailed background check.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, numerous sources told Deadline that Apple TV’s Europe chief Jay Hunt, former BBC content boss Charlotte Moore, and ex-Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, are among the most serious contenders.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Bucs were even Super Bowl contenders for a moment, until a division rival crushed their hope for a playoff berth.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Looking back on the audition process, Whalen shared that many of the hopefuls believed one actor had the role locked down already.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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For those England hopefuls eyeing up a late run into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, there is always the hope that, in football, fortunes can quickly change.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Candidates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidates. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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