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
Austin-Gatson emphasized that Georgia's current system — primaries followed by general elections — allows voters to better evaluate candidates and ensures fairness in the process.
—
Cbs Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Robbins took home about 31%, and two other candidates split the rest.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
In February, Mirror Indy reported, the Marion County Democratic Party challenged about 80 candidates who sought low-level positions.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And on top of that, culture and character evaluations have quietly become a standard part of the process—even when candidates don’t know they’re being assessed.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Cody Favors, an Oncor maintenance and construction supervisor, said recruiters want candidates with questions about the company or industry.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Aside from Sacramento, both Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon, are considered strong candidates to be that new team’s home.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Peters initially set out for election knowing a number of reform-minded candidates were running in other districts, most influenced by Onward Tosa, a blog organization led in part by current Ald.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The filing period in gubernatorial years draws more candidates than presidential elections because more candidates are on the ballot, said Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 19 Mar. 2026
Cbs Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Robbins took home about 31%, and two other candidates split the rest.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
In February, Mirror Indy reported, the Marion County Democratic Party challenged about 80 candidates who sought low-level positions.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
And on top of that, culture and character evaluations have quietly become a standard part of the process—even when candidates don’t know they’re being assessed.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Cody Favors, an Oncor maintenance and construction supervisor, said recruiters want candidates with questions about the company or industry.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Aside from Sacramento, both Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon, are considered strong candidates to be that new team’s home.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Peters initially set out for election knowing a number of reform-minded candidates were running in other districts, most influenced by Onward Tosa, a blog organization led in part by current Ald.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The filing period in gubernatorial years draws more candidates than presidential elections because more candidates are on the ballot, said Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidates
Noun
-
The county’s One-Stop Permit Center provides convenient coordination, but applicants face delays waiting for complete design plans and navigating convoluted information.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
With no ability to trust that college students have basic skills, a majority of employers now use their own standardized exams to prescreen applicants.—
David Blobaum,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Moore spoke at the Maryland statehouse for the premiere of NPR's Newsmakers, a new video podcast featuring high-profile interviews with leaders across society, from business figures to athletes to presidential contenders.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
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The state's liberal majority is split among eight Democratic contenders.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After all, confidence and decisiveness are hallmark traits of executive presence, a quality long sought by boards, taught at top business schools, and used at performance review time as a catch-all descriptor to either promote or shelve C-suite hopefuls.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
1 Apr. 2026
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Presidential hopefuls often, though not always, release books before launching a campaign, giving them a moment in the spotlight before new audiences and a chance to crystallize their message embarking on a campaign.—
Hillel Italie,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Candidates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidates. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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