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 Either way, this is a dangerous way for a team that fancies itself as a perennial contender to annually live. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026 There were, alas, many more contenders for the latter than the former. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 10 July 2026 No-churn watermelon ice cream has been filling up social media feeds recently and could be a contender for the most refreshing viral recipe trend of summer. — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 July 2026 The Hurricanes are expected to be title contenders again this season. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for contender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender

Noun

Under the current system, office holders targeted in a recall are barred from being a candidate to replace themselves in that same election.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
So did former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman Everton Blair, the only candidate who ran for a full term to also qualify in the special election.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of candidate

Noun

All while the other competitor in the arena, Matt Kuchar, stood and waited, with the biggest round of his life on the line.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
With ruthless competitors who will stop at nothing to dethrone and destroy them, the Whitlocks are a blue-collar dynasty at the edge of extinction – and the old king is fighting to hold onto the crown.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 July 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island in New York on July 4, where contestants ate several days' worth of calories in just 10 minutes.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The reality star — who was briefly engaged to the winner of his season, Hannah Ann Sluss, and dated his fifth place contestant, Kelley Flanagan, on and off for years — addressed the book for the first time on Monday.

— Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

Definition of contestant

Noun

Santos is an intelligent player with lots of potential, and United nabbing him from a ‘Big Six’ rival would be the sort of clever deal that can keep them agile and competitive elsewhere in the summer transfer market.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026
The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of rival

Noun

This same poll showed Hochul, a Democrat, leading her Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, by a margin of 20 percentage points – a promising sign for her reelection campaign.

— Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 14 July 2026
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, several would-be Collins' challengers descended upon the scene — and her office — to speak out.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026