CONTENDER Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

contender

noun

kən-ˈten-dər

Definition of contender

as in candidate

one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award a strong contender for the mayoral position

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 contender In fact, until the end, the fans treated it like a typical late-season Sun game from years past, when the franchise was a perennial playoff contender, cheering, chanting, getting after the refs at all the right moments. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 The president appeared to be addressing a Semafor report that listed Bessent as a top contender for the new role. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026 Both artists are serious Grammy contenders in marquee categories. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026 Boise State’s season-opening loss came to Oregon, and the Broncos have a win over another possible G6 contender, Memphis, on their schedule, but whichever team claims the CFP spot will have to be as close to perfect as possible. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender

Noun

French President Emanuel Macron delivered a briefing to the candidates running to succeed him so disturbing that even the far-right National Rally’s leaders emerged denouncing Russian hybrid attacks.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Figures such as Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed have given Republicans an opportunity to cast Democrats as socially out of touch and misaligned with the typical voter’s values.

— Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of candidate

Noun

But newspaper people ought to stand in solidarity with our broadcast brethren/competitors in this incredibly small-minded and grudging clash between the White House and the Washington press corps.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
As figures like Goldberg publicly champion micro-practices, expect competitors to release bite-sized modules designed to fit between meetings or before opening a stressful email.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

Meta and Apple are fierce rivals, and on Wednesday, the Facebook creator upped the ante by announcing new lightweight virtual reality glasses that make Apple’s Vision Pro headset look like bulky old tech.

— Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
Many of them, including Ned and his childhood friend and rival, Roland, are scarred by their time as youth players, haunted by memories of the sadistic coaches and cruel, competitive fathers who terrorized them both on and off the court.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of rival

Noun

Dereck Counter is the incumbent, while Jacob Boyce is the challenger.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Security is another top-of-mind issue that favors the challenger, who has promised an approach modeled after El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

— Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026