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 The Brewers, however, are among the current contenders least suited to October baseball. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Like other right-wing presidential contenders across Latin America, most recently in Colombia and Peru, Kast has invoked Bukele as a model for his own promises to fight organized crime. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 The former vice presidential nominee noticeably didn't endorse either contender in this primary. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Read on for the top contenders in the category and plenty more besides. — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender

Noun

Another candidate, 27-year-old progressive organizer and substitute teacher Elijah Manley, said Republicans’ redistricting ploy is not Wasserman Schultz’s fault.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
But there are only so many roster spots, and Berrios has emerged as a likely candidate to secure one given his versatility on special teams.

— Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of candidate

Noun

Last year, Chinese firms accounted for the vast majority of global android deliveries, far outpacing American competitors like Tesla, Figure AI and Boston Dynamics.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
The pharmaceutical giant has sought out new avenues of success with cancer-treatment drugs and to catch up with its competitors, which have dominated the market for weight-loss medications.

— Sam Jacobs, Time, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

Higgins was joined by Rausch and fellow Season 4 contestants Monét X Change, Tara Lipinski, Lisa Rinna, Rob Cesternino and Eric Nam for the Deadline conversation.

— The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
The finale features four contestants competing on an American Ninja Warrior–style course, and the other 116 competitors lined up behind them in patriotic jerseys.

— Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of contestant

Noun

But keeping their promotion rivals at bay most definitely was, Parkinson’s men conceding 24 times in those dozen games, 16 of which came on Welsh soil.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Chinese rivals Baidu Apollo Go and WeRide, meanwhile, are ramping up plans and tests for operating autonomous rides in Europe.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of rival

Noun

All 16 Florida House incumbents facing primary challengers survived Tuesday, as most state legislative races now turn toward the November general election, where Democrats have fielded challengers in nearly every contest.

— CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
The two other statewide candidates drawing state matching dollars — Attorney General James Uthmeier and his Democratic challenger Jose Javier Rodriguez — will bypass the primary.

— Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026