1
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
a strong contender for the mayoral position
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contender
Two contenders recently withdrew their bids, including a Hudson Yards Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands in Queens.
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Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Three contenders — all now left searching for answers.
—Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
The trade positions the Rockets as a major contender on paper, with their NBA title odds improving to +850, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to CBS Sports.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
The secondary is something of a question mark for a Rams team that is regarded as a potential Super Bowl contender.
June 13, 2025
After finishing 10-7 and advancing to the NFC divisional round last season, the Rams neither signed a cornerback during free agency nor drafted one.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Three contenders — all now left searching for answers.
—Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025
The trade positions the Rockets as a major contender on paper, with their NBA title odds improving to +850, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, according to CBS Sports.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
The secondary is something of a question mark for a Rams team that is regarded as a potential Super Bowl contender.
June 13, 2025
After finishing 10-7 and advancing to the NFC divisional round last season, the Rams neither signed a cornerback during free agency nor drafted one.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender
Noun
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The 25-year-old left shot defenseman, a classic stay-at-home blueliner, had a goal in 17 games with the B’s and would be a good candidate to be the team’s seventh defenseman, taking over the role of UFA-to-be Parker Wotherspoon if the B’s decide not to bring him back.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
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President Donald Trump threatened to find a Republican candidate to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis after the North Carolina lawmaker opposed his legislative package.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Unlike compensation packages that competitors can readily replicate, values alignment creates a distinctive organizational signature that strongly resists imitation—genuine congruence between how leaders navigate complex decisions and how your organization operates daily.—
Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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In the Club’s eyes, Amazon has a technological edge over competitors like Walmart , the world’s largest retailer, making its grocery and everyday essentials push more compelling, said Zev Fima, portfolio analyst for the Club.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Cynthia is now the only contestant to have made the semifinals without winning a challenge.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The season had plenty of surprises besides Oscar-winning actresses, too — most notably the inclusion of an innocent newborn infant as a contestant in the game, an upping of the show’s anti-capitalist moral stakes to their logical extreme.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The company was slow to deliver its Apple Intelligence platform and still lags rivals in key features.—
Sara Braun,
Fortune,
21 June 2025
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Success stories are told in the language of domination—of markets, rivals, and time.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contender. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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