as in contender
one who strives for the same thing as another
the third-party challenger in the presidential election
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Recent Examples of challenger
In District 71, Republican incumbent Amanda Batten, who has represented the area since 2019 and is seeking her fourth full term, is running against Democratic challenger Jessica Anderson.
—
Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Protests broke out in commercial capital Dar es Salaam and other cities during the vote on Wednesday over the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two biggest challengers from the presidential race, as well as what demonstrators say is increasing government repression.
—Reuters 10 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Season 42 continues on Friday with Christopher Tillman returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
However, two challengers, Wynett Guy and Coretta Houge, are waging write-in campaigns.
—Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Voters in the West Ada School District will choose between an incumbent and a challenger for each of two seats on the five-member board.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
Ogles is facing fundraising difficulties in his reelection effort, the Tennessean reported, with mounting campaign debt and multiple challengers entering the race.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
This home is within Trustee Area 2, in which longtime incumbent Pam Costa successfully ran against two challengers last year.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Three of the board’s trustees will be elected to full, four-year terms from a field of four candidates, including incumbents Linda Hoskins Sutton and Brad Isnard and challengers Joe Caiharr and Geoffrey Kump.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Protests broke out in commercial capital Dar es Salaam and other cities during the vote on Wednesday over the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two biggest challengers from the presidential race, as well as what demonstrators say is increasing government repression.
—Reuters 10 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Season 42 continues on Friday with Christopher Tillman returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
However, two challengers, Wynett Guy and Coretta Houge, are waging write-in campaigns.
—Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Voters in the West Ada School District will choose between an incumbent and a challenger for each of two seats on the five-member board.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
Ogles is facing fundraising difficulties in his reelection effort, the Tennessean reported, with mounting campaign debt and multiple challengers entering the race.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
This home is within Trustee Area 2, in which longtime incumbent Pam Costa successfully ran against two challengers last year.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Three of the board’s trustees will be elected to full, four-year terms from a field of four candidates, including incumbents Linda Hoskins Sutton and Brad Isnard and challengers Joe Caiharr and Geoffrey Kump.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenger
Noun
-
Let’s wait a bit before calling them championship contenders.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
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The reward is a future that looks a lot less scary, and a present that once again looks like a legitimate title contender.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The moment played out on Season 3 of The Traitors, when Sandoval and the other contestants braved a creepy cabin full of singing dolls and had to memorize and perform backwards nursery rhymes.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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With a crown on her head, a crisp blue suit on her shoulders, and a giant clock around her neck, Hall tasked a man with choosing the best cake-decorating woman among a trio of contestants.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Hug beat his closest competitor, Great Britain’s David Weir, by nearly four minutes.—
Bette Canter,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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The first iteration of the New York City Marathon had 55 finishers, while the 2024 race had 55,642 competitors cross the finish line.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Once a manufacturing subcontractor of South Korean companies, China has now become their global rival in key industries like EV and electronics.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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Florida had a shot at a program-defining win against the rival that tormented it the most.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Challenger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenger. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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