as in champions
the person who comes in first in a competition
the wrestling champ
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in chews
to crush or grind with the teeth
kept champing a cigar as he barked out orders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 champs
Mike Kaye
updated January 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
The Eagles were the defending Super Bowl champs.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Since Michigan came within three points of UConn thanks to a furious fourth-quarter rally, the defending champs have won each of its last 12 games by at least 26.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But the defending champs couldn’t match the Niners’ resourcefulness.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
The defending league champs rallied from a 2-1 deficit at Cedar Park’s H-E-B Center to take out Nebraska in five sets in a rematch of last season’s championship series.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
What has been a bad defense rose up like champs.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Fresh off a five-set thriller, New Life rolled into the match with a chance to knock out the Nuggets, the reigning Class 2A champs.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays just lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers but that may not be the last time the team faces competition from the two-time reigning champs.
—Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
The Panthers are the reigning NFC South champs.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
The Eagles were the defending Super Bowl champs.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Since Michigan came within three points of UConn thanks to a furious fourth-quarter rally, the defending champs have won each of its last 12 games by at least 26.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
But the defending champs couldn’t match the Niners’ resourcefulness.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
The defending league champs rallied from a 2-1 deficit at Cedar Park’s H-E-B Center to take out Nebraska in five sets in a rematch of last season’s championship series.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
What has been a bad defense rose up like champs.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Fresh off a five-set thriller, New Life rolled into the match with a chance to knock out the Nuggets, the reigning Class 2A champs.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays just lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers but that may not be the last time the team faces competition from the two-time reigning champs.
—Patrick McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champs
Noun
-
Paperwork snafu Two-time reigning pairs figure skating national champions Alisa Efimova and husband Misha Mitrofanov qualified for the Winter Olympics in Milan next month, but are ineligible because Efimova isn't an American citizen.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The San Diego Wave will open their 2026 season at home and play the defending National Women’s Soccer League champions on July 4, part of a season schedule released by the club on Thursday.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the pooch chews on the glove, the battery is suddenly damaged and begins to smoke.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The insect chews through the layer, and eventually the damage is akin to putting a permanent tourniquet on the tree.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The guy just f****** stomps right on my face.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The opening sequence, where McGuigan shamelessly apes Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, is reasonably entertaining, and McAvoy masticates the scenery with a winking fervor that befits the project, but the whole thing is unforgivably half-baked.—
Dan Sheehan,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2021
Verb
-
Instead of carrying the chip’s features as a pattern of light, this machine literally stamps them onto the silicon.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Arriaga’s version simultaneously pays graceful homage to Fender’s original, while, like the rest of the songs on the album, Arriaga stamps every lyric and message with his unique artistry and warm, welcoming vocal tone.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Champs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/champs. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
