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
The experience served as an extreme way to learn what Everest requires of its challengers.
—
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
In Orange and Osceola Counties, an area with a large population of Puerto Rican voters, DeSantis’ Democratic challenger Charlie Crist still edged out a win.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Ennis needed less than two minutes to secure a first-round stoppage against challenger Uisma Lima in Philly’s Wells Fargo Center to claim the WBA interim super-welterweight title.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
While Kalshi and Polymarket remain the dominant players, other challengers are emerging.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, the Democratic incumbent, cruised to victory over Republican challenger Cory Bowman, 78% to 22%.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
If the Court decides against the President, the lucid performance of Neal Katyal, representing one set of challengers, must be credited with demonstrating that commonsense runs the other way.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
The filing period for California's congressional primary does not open until February 9, 2026, and closes on March 6, so there is still plenty of time for other challengers to enter the ring.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
Season 42 continues on Friday with Allegra Kuney returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
In Orange and Osceola Counties, an area with a large population of Puerto Rican voters, DeSantis’ Democratic challenger Charlie Crist still edged out a win.
—Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Ennis needed less than two minutes to secure a first-round stoppage against challenger Uisma Lima in Philly’s Wells Fargo Center to claim the WBA interim super-welterweight title.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
While Kalshi and Polymarket remain the dominant players, other challengers are emerging.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, the Democratic incumbent, cruised to victory over Republican challenger Cory Bowman, 78% to 22%.
—Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
If the Court decides against the President, the lucid performance of Neal Katyal, representing one set of challengers, must be credited with demonstrating that commonsense runs the other way.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
The filing period for California's congressional primary does not open until February 9, 2026, and closes on March 6, so there is still plenty of time for other challengers to enter the ring.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
Season 42 continues on Friday with Allegra Kuney returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenger
Noun
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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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Even with expectations for this season always low (even by Browns post-1999 standards), does anyone watching think this team is anywhere close to becoming a contender — even with a pair of potential top-15 picks in the 2026 draft?—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Bangkok later this month.—
Anabella González,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The pageant director accused Bosch of skipping promotional activities, including a photoshoot that all contestants were expected to share on social media.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Paramount has been bidding since October for WBD, a transaction that would elevate David Ellison’s nascent media empire into a Hollywood force that could not be easily ignored by tech competitors and Wall Street.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Much like Blue Origin’s chief competitor, SpaceX — which has long been a dominant force in the commercial launch business — Blue Origin rockets are designed to be partially reused in order to drive down costs.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, who both stand alone as the only squads in their division with winning records, every other divisional leader holds only a slim edge over rivals in hot pursuit.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Recently, archaeologists found a massive stone basin in Italy dating back more than 2,000 years — remnants of a once-powerful rival of Rome.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Challenger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenger. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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