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 East's hierarchy is now fluid, with the Sixers emerging as serious contenders, though the Celtics remain a formidable force. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See IndieWire’s full list of 2026 Emmy predictions, complete with frontrunners, contenders, and long shots on our website. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 If allowed to run, Le Pen is widely seen as a top contender to succeed centrist President Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 election. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Power goes to the head of a newspaper magnate (Welles) who uses his media empire to build himself into a political contender, while a reporter (William Alland) is left piecing together the puzzle of the mogul's complicated legacy. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 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

Anita Edmondson, a business owner and teacher who previously served on the Poway City Council, was elected to fill the council’s District 2 seat once again in the recent election against competitor Vanessa Springett.

— Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Then check whether your brand gets mentioned, how it's described, whether competitors are included and which sources get cited.

— Dr. Bin Tang, Forbes.com, 7 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