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 Of course, the Glee cast is going to have their work cut out for them, given more than a decade has transpired since the original series went off the air in 2015 and a lot more contenders have emerged in the years after. — Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026 With just a week left for the 2026 Ballon d'Or award ceremony, top contenders Lamine Yamal (FCB), Rodri (FCB), and Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) will be itching to deliver statement performances and stake their claim. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026 But the next generation of potential White House contenders is getting in on the action, too. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Filmmakers behind those distinguished productions assembled at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Arkansas last week for HSDFF’s inaugural roundtable of Oscar contenders, an event held in partnership with Deadline. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender

Noun

Their loss has become the Chiefs’ gain, as Walker, for now, looks like a possible MVP candidate in Kansas City.

— Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Sanders, who spoke alongside el Sayed in Grand Rapids, said Trump’s attacks on the Democratic candidate were rooted in Islamophobia because Republicans have little to say about the issues affecting working families.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of candidate

Noun

Anthropic’s future — and that of its competitors — relies heavily on the availability of computing components to train its models and power AI chatbots and agents.

— Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
On a per-range basis, a customer will be able to buy a fourth-gen GM EV for less money than a competitor’s profitable model without relying on subsidies.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

There’s something so unsettling about a game show where the contestants’ well-being is not considered, and The Tonight Show leaned into that uncanniness to great effect.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Other celebs to have been announced include Celebrity Traitors contestant Joe Lycett and the Sugababes.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of contestant

Noun

Adding to the uncertainty, Israel's election appeared headed for a political stalemate, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, securing a clear path to a governing majority.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Netanyahu’s main challenger, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, opposes Palestinian statehood and has pledged to destroy Hamas’ military wing.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026