Synonyms of contender

contender

noun

kən-ˈten-dər 

1

as in candidate

one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award

a strong contender for the mayoral position

Synonyms & Similar Words

• candidate
• applicant
• nominee
• hopeful
• competitor
• aspirant
• campaigner
• prospect
• seeker
• expectant
• contestant
• entrant
• qualifier
• favorite
• entry
• pretender
• applier
• claimant
• crown prince
• favorite son
• spoiler
• running mate
• stalking horse
• dark horse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incumbent
• officeholder
• awardee
• inductee
• honoree
• noncandidate
• dropout

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

• competitor
• contestant
• rival
• challenger
• competition
• finalist
• player
• corrival
• entrant
• entry
• also-ran
• archrival
• opponent
• semifinalist
• adversary
• antagonist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partner
• ally
• collaborator
• teammate
• supporter
• noncompetitor
• backer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contender

With the conference race beginning to take shape, Saturday offers both programs an opportunity to strengthen their place among the league’s early contenders. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

From long-serving public defenders to corporate litigators and law professors, contenders emphasize trial depth, courtroom fairness, mental health insight and modernization, including proposals to use artificial intelligence to ease heavy caseloads. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The contender from South America, along with its cousin, the white bellbird, has a call that can hit the earsplitting decibels of a chainsaw or jackhammer. — Meghan Bartels, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

The sub-$700 laptop market is still heating up, despite industry pressures that are pushing prices up, even for early contenders in the space. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026