Synonyms of candidates

candidates

noun

plural of candidate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• applicants
• contenders
• hopefuls
• aspirants
• prospects
• campaigners
• competitors
• nominees
• seekers
• contestants
• expectants
• entries
• qualifiers
• entrants
• appliers
• favorites
• claimants
• pretenders
• spoilers
• stalking horses
• running mates
• favorite sons
• crown princes
• dark horses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incumbents
• officeholders
• awardees
• inductees
• noncandidates
• honorees
• dropouts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of candidates

Two Sacramento-area congressional candidates have poured record amounts of personal money to fund their campaigns. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Nothing shortlists the candidates, and the community votes on its forum. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Kamala Harris’ defeat convinced some Democratic strategists, like the big-tenters at Third Way and the Searchlight Institute, that Democratic candidates were too easily moved by activists, and that voters held this against them. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Their responses were not edited and are in the candidates’ own words. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Aetrex’s Wear Tester software uses AI to compare 3D scans of potential candidates against millions of foot profiles in its global database. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

As part of that effort, The AJC researched the backgrounds of the two candidates seeking to become Georgia’s next governor. — Thad Moore, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Every gubernatorial election since that race has been sleepy and ignored in national politics, with Democratic candidates coasting to victory. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Getting there took three or four candidates for the title track. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026