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
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
Pratt joins 21 other candidates in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race, according to filings with the city’s Ethics Commission, a field that includes former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and housing advocate Rae Huang.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
This story has been updated to reflect the candidates running in the 6th Congressional District.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Current Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May, and the Treasury secretary has whittled down the candidates to five.
—Jeff Cox,eamon Javers, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
His son, Chris Shula, is the defensive coordinator of the Rams and one of the top head coach candidates during this cycle.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
In these districts, racial-minority voters make up a population large enough to have a realistic opportunity of electing their preferred candidates.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
Another major difference from the previous legislation is that this change wouldn’t go into effect until after the next election cycle, meaning that when the next City Commission race happens in 2027, voters would knowingly elect candidates to one-time five-year terms that would run until 2032.
—Tess Riski
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
During the 2020 Iowa Caucus, La Carreta became a popular site for presidential candidates seeking to engage with Iowa's Latino community.
—F. Amanda Tugade, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Pratt joins 21 other candidates in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race, according to filings with the city’s Ethics Commission, a field that includes former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and housing advocate Rae Huang.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
This story has been updated to reflect the candidates running in the 6th Congressional District.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Current Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May, and the Treasury secretary has whittled down the candidates to five.
—Jeff Cox,eamon Javers, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
His son, Chris Shula, is the defensive coordinator of the Rams and one of the top head coach candidates during this cycle.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
In these districts, racial-minority voters make up a population large enough to have a realistic opportunity of electing their preferred candidates.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 8 Jan. 2026
Another major difference from the previous legislation is that this change wouldn’t go into effect until after the next election cycle, meaning that when the next City Commission race happens in 2027, voters would knowingly elect candidates to one-time five-year terms that would run until 2032.
—Tess Riski
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
During the 2020 Iowa Caucus, La Carreta became a popular site for presidential candidates seeking to engage with Iowa's Latino community.
—F. Amanda Tugade, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidates
Noun
-
Because of that conviction, Do was suspended in 2018 from evaluating applicants to the Workers’ Compensation Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
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After approval, the Department of Finance will mail cards -- which will include the name and address of the farm, the issue date and a unique card number -- to the applicants.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, this team bullied one of the top NFC playoff contenders from start to finish.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Performers like Olivia Dean and PinkPantheress have pretty much provided the soundtrack for TikTok this past year, and are being viewed as strong contenders in that category, along with Ravyn Lenae and Megan Moroney.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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After Itsaragrisil eventually summoned security to escort Bosch out of the auditorium, other pageant hopefuls stood up to follow suit, as seen in the livestream feed.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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His list of social-media endorsements in the campaign’s final days included dozens of other GOP hopefuls, but not her.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Candidates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidates. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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