1
as in candidates
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
a strong contender for the mayoral position
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in competitors
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
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Recent Examples of contenders
Speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, numerous sources told Deadline that Apple TV’s Europe chief Jay Hunt, former BBC content boss Charlotte Moore, and ex-Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, are among the most serious contenders.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
The Bucs were even Super Bowl contenders for a moment, until a division rival crushed their hope for a playoff berth.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
With no party primary to select nominees, all of the contenders will appear on the same ballot in March.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Winning one of these will move the needle for these contenders’ Oscar chances.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
In some ways, Rogers’ form is emblematic of Villa’s broader transformation into title contenders.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Instead, this team bullied one of the top NFC playoff contenders from start to finish.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Performers like Olivia Dean and PinkPantheress have pretty much provided the soundtrack for TikTok this past year, and are being viewed as strong contenders in that category, along with Ravyn Lenae and Megan Moroney.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
The Bucs were even Super Bowl contenders for a moment, until a division rival crushed their hope for a playoff berth.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
With no party primary to select nominees, all of the contenders will appear on the same ballot in March.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Winning one of these will move the needle for these contenders’ Oscar chances.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
In some ways, Rogers’ form is emblematic of Villa’s broader transformation into title contenders.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Momentum hardens, vulnerabilities are exposed and the gap between contenders and pretenders is out in the open.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Instead, this team bullied one of the top NFC playoff contenders from start to finish.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Performers like Olivia Dean and PinkPantheress have pretty much provided the soundtrack for TikTok this past year, and are being viewed as strong contenders in that category, along with Ravyn Lenae and Megan Moroney.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contenders
Noun
-
The Dallas Cowboys have requested to interview three candidates for their defensive coordinator opening, according to a report from ESPN’s Todd Archer.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Pratt joins 21 other candidates in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race, according to filings with the city’s Ethics Commission, a field that includes former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and housing advocate Rae Huang.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bannock plan pivots to condos Ahlquist is taking a different approach to downtown living than many competitors.—
Mark Dee
January 13,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Allowing that achievement to unravel through uncertainty or neglect would hand competitors an advantage.—
Diego Marroquin Bitar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Others, however, fall back into their old habits — and several of the contestants have died.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike previous iterations of Fear Factor, which featured new contestants in every episode, House of Fear will corral its 14 contestants under the same roof, Big Brother-style.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At certain points, Pelosi and Hoyer were seen as rivals vying for the speakership — a role that only Pelosi ended up securing.—
Nikole Killion,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The short, but so far rather sweet, voyage of the Chelsea Under-21 boss at the first-team helm will feature one last stop just across the Thames against west London rivals Fulham.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But 2026 isn’t 2022, with years of GOP control giving challengers clearer lines of attack.—
Karen Brooks Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Quigley has filed for re-election for his current seat in Congress and faces four challengers in the Democratic primary election in March.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contenders. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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