1
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
a strong contender for the mayoral position
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in competitor
one who strives for the same thing as another
several contenders competing for the title of the city's best Italian restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contender
Add that to a season series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a split with the San Diego Padres, and the Cubs are making an early case as legitimate contenders.
—
Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The award show announced Swift as a contender in six categories on April 23: artist of the year, favorite female pop artist, album of the year, favorite pop album, collaboration of the year and favorite touring artist.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
McEnany wasn’t the first to raise speculation around the fiery Democrat, as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and veteran pollster Nate Silver have also floated her name as a potential contender.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
The show’s innovative one-take format, brilliantly executed by cinematographer Matthew Lewis, has positioned it as an undeniable contender.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The award show announced Swift as a contender in six categories on April 23: artist of the year, favorite female pop artist, album of the year, favorite pop album, collaboration of the year and favorite touring artist.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
McEnany wasn’t the first to raise speculation around the fiery Democrat, as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and veteran pollster Nate Silver have also floated her name as a potential contender.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
The show’s innovative one-take format, brilliantly executed by cinematographer Matthew Lewis, has positioned it as an undeniable contender.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender
Noun
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The firm often watches companies for many years before investing and has an extensive stable of impressive board candidates.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
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First baseman Josh Bell and relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan were listed by Kelly as two of the 10 most likely candidates to be traded at this year's trade deadline.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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While lawmakers scrutinize TikTok’s Chinese ownership and explore potential bans, competitors see a window of opportunity.—
Lisa Setyon,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2025
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Asked about this, Joyner said Nolen was a fierce competitor, a young player who was far from perfect but one who was willing to learn.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Four top contestants will advance to the four-game (two-episode) semifinals.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Six contestants were eliminated during The Voice Season 27 Playoffs on Monday night (April 28), as Team Adam and Team Kelsea faced off in a night filled with standout performances, tough decisions, and no second chances.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist and Maldonado's rival, also starred in the show.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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No rivals, no rows about gifts, no fireworks back home.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contender. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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