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
Starmer’s Cabinet colleagues expressed support, and none of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers has made a move.
—
ABC News, 9 May 2026
Like the Indiana Republicans who lost their primaries this week, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson defied his party leaders on redistricting and drew the most competitive challenger of his career.
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 9 May 2026
Dusso doubts that the challengers would’ve won on a campaign solely against the redistricting effort.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Bond markets have been spooked by the prospect of political change as the obvious challengers, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham, might push for greater government borrowing and spending, which could take gilt yields even higher.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 May 2026
Season 42 continues on Friday with Tristan Williams returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 8 May 2026
There is no primary for House Seat B, as only Democrat incumbent Annie Haws and Republican challenger Chandler Stewart Hadraba are running.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
Recent polling has painted a mixed picture of the race, with Bass generally leading public surveys but large shares of undecided voters and shifting support among challengers underscoring the fluid nature of the contest.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 May 2026
In response, Turning Point Action and Club for Growth pledged to back primary challengers against the lawmakers.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
ABC News, 9 May 2026
Like the Indiana Republicans who lost their primaries this week, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson defied his party leaders on redistricting and drew the most competitive challenger of his career.
—Erin Cox, Washington Post, 9 May 2026
Dusso doubts that the challengers would’ve won on a campaign solely against the redistricting effort.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Bond markets have been spooked by the prospect of political change as the obvious challengers, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham, might push for greater government borrowing and spending, which could take gilt yields even higher.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 May 2026
Season 42 continues on Friday with Tristan Williams returning as champion to face two new challengers.
—Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 8 May 2026
There is no primary for House Seat B, as only Democrat incumbent Annie Haws and Republican challenger Chandler Stewart Hadraba are running.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
Recent polling has painted a mixed picture of the race, with Bass generally leading public surveys but large shares of undecided voters and shifting support among challengers underscoring the fluid nature of the contest.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 May 2026
In response, Turning Point Action and Club for Growth pledged to back primary challengers against the lawmakers.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenger
Noun
-
Barring an Eric Swalwell-style blow-up, the top three — Becerra, Steyer and Hilton — are really the only true contenders.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
King is more likely to be a lock for the practice squad than a legitimate contender for the 53-man roster entering OTAs.—
Mike Kaye
Updated May 14,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Beast Games, a spectacle of over-the-top competition, offers 1,000 contestants the chance to win a $5 million prize with other high-value prizes being doled out in the process.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
The contestant — last name not revealed — just won the largest prize in a single pricing game in the 54-year history of the CBS daytime game show.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Now the airline’s demise has cleared the way for competitors to raise their prices—and has left roughly seventeen thousand people out of work.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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The bad blood that had festered between the two competitors came to a boiling point.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
This is a matchup of longtime rivals in the old Garden Grove League.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
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Chimaev just wants his rival to make it to the cage.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Challenger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenger. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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