challengers

noun

plural of challenger
as in competitors
one who strives for the same thing as another the third-party challenger in the presidential election

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of challengers Will White, at large, is set to face five challengers in his first election after being appointed to the council in May 2025. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Recent political trends show that prosecutor elections are becoming more competitive, with more incumbents facing challengers. — Ronald Wright, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026 Arrayed against Netanyahu is a fractured field of challengers. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 Two other Ballon d'Or challengers, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, faced each other later in the clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, a day ahead of the awards ceremony in London. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Feldstein Soto never supported Gascón and endorsed one of his challengers in the 2024 primary. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s challengers pledge a fresh start. — Lior Soroka, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Newton, Valdosta and Heard County defended their high rankings with victories over Top 10 challengers last week. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Several new challengers are stepping into the box office ring this weekend to face off. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challengers
  1. competitors
  2. contenders
  3. contestants
  4. rivals
Noun
  • Among the largest companies in the trading card and collectibles industry, PSA’s progress toward fully reopening will be closely monitored by hobbyists and competitors alike.
    — Benjamin Burrows, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • This structure meant competitors had no viable alternative transport routes.
    — Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitors
Noun
  • And the way the French election works is that there’s a first round for the Presidential contenders and then the two front-runners go forward.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Among the contenders was the 38-year-old New Zealander then best known for the miniseries Reilly, Ace of Spies and Omen III — and still seven years away from Jurassic Park.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of contenders
Noun
  • There’s something so unsettling about a game show where the contestants’ well-being is not considered, and The Tonight Show leaned into that uncanniness to great effect.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of contestants going solo over a balance beam between platforms, three players had to work together to get a ball balanced on a disc over the beam.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • The Pixel 10a can climb to a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, blowing rivals out of the water.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That’s becoming more and more difficult for many, as Chinese buyers ditch foreign brands in favor of domestic rivals.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivals

Browse Nearby Words

challenger
challengers
challenges
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Cite this Entry

“Challengers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challengers. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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