as in competitors
one who strives for the same thing as another
the third-party challenger in the presidential election
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Recent Examples of challengers
The only question is how many of this three challengers will qualify by winning at least 15% of the delegate vote at a nominating convention on May 11.
—
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Palmer, as well as the challengers, also support changing the city of Willow Park to a home rule charter.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 May 2026
Two Lake County Council races have a deep pool of Democratic challengers, while three council members finish out their last terms on the dais.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Democratic incumbent Dave Min is up against a series of challengers from across the political spectrum as battles to keep the seat representing California’s 47th Congressional District.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
His two challengers, Francisco Tamayo and Yair Gersten, come from more Democratic backgrounds, setting up a race that could reshape the ideological balance at City Hall.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
There is something comforting, to me, about this churn of champions and challengers.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Kean does not face any challengers in the Republican primary slated for June 2.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Boldly returned for the second period with an exclamation point, setting up Minnesota’s tying goal by weaving around four Dallas challengers, and pulling Oettinger outside the crease, before passing to Eriksson Ek, who had an open net to hit for his third goal of the playoffs.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Palmer, as well as the challengers, also support changing the city of Willow Park to a home rule charter.
—Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 May 2026
Two Lake County Council races have a deep pool of Democratic challengers, while three council members finish out their last terms on the dais.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Democratic incumbent Dave Min is up against a series of challengers from across the political spectrum as battles to keep the seat representing California’s 47th Congressional District.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
His two challengers, Francisco Tamayo and Yair Gersten, come from more Democratic backgrounds, setting up a race that could reshape the ideological balance at City Hall.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
There is something comforting, to me, about this churn of champions and challengers.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Kean does not face any challengers in the Republican primary slated for June 2.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Boldly returned for the second period with an exclamation point, setting up Minnesota’s tying goal by weaving around four Dallas challengers, and pulling Oettinger outside the crease, before passing to Eriksson Ek, who had an open net to hit for his third goal of the playoffs.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challengers
Noun
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When Beijing wishes to shape the outcome of a transaction, signal displeasure, or slow the advance of foreign competitors in strategic sectors, antitrust enforcement has proven an effective tool.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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Chevy Bolt's electric hatchback has a huge advantage over some competitors as the least expensive new EV.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Knicks look like bona fide title contenders.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
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Fourteen candidates are on the ballot, though only five, including Pratt, are viewed as viable contenders heading into the June 2 primary.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Noun
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As with past years, each group of contestants had a practice round in which no one was eliminated.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
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The actual crew that follows the contestants was the actual people who film it, but that episode kept getting punted.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Once fierce rivals, the two men were responsible for the country’s first peaceful transfer of power between parties, after Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party defeated Adams and the Federalists in the election of 1800.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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While rivals like the Tacoma and Colorado constantly reinvent themselves, Nissan tends to take the long road by refining, tweaking, and polishing instead of blowing everything up every few years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Challengers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challengers. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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