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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of contenders
Barring an Eric Swalwell-style blow-up, the top three — Becerra, Steyer and Hilton — are really the only true contenders.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Three contenders for the Republican nomination are advocating for even more aggressive tax relief while oil prices are riding high.
—Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Only 12 teams make the playoffs, so one of these contenders will be left out.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Georgia seem like the real contenders here.
—Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
Rubio has risen to the top of the list of Republican presidential contenders, alongside Vice President JD Vance, in recent weeks.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The Dolphins, viewed as contenders entering past recent seasons, were consistently getting a handful of national stand-alone games.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
All of the likely contenders face considerable obstacles of their own.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Subscribe now Northwood’s boys, along with Santa Margarita’s boys and girls, are contenders for team titles at the CIF State swimming championships based on the scoring of entry times.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Three contenders for the Republican nomination are advocating for even more aggressive tax relief while oil prices are riding high.
—Morgan Lee, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Only 12 teams make the playoffs, so one of these contenders will be left out.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Georgia seem like the real contenders here.
—Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
Rubio has risen to the top of the list of Republican presidential contenders, alongside Vice President JD Vance, in recent weeks.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The Dolphins, viewed as contenders entering past recent seasons, were consistently getting a handful of national stand-alone games.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
All of the likely contenders face considerable obstacles of their own.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Subscribe now Northwood’s boys, along with Santa Margarita’s boys and girls, are contenders for team titles at the CIF State swimming championships based on the scoring of entry times.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contenders
Noun
-
The two candidates who advance to the general election would be wise to offer Californians a hope for the future that doesn’t call back to our yesterdays.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Becerra went from polling in the single digits before the fallout in early April to being among the top gubernatorial candidates.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Simon did not cite any competitors, but Aéropostale typically squares off with emerging, teen-centric brands like Edikted, Princess Polly and Urban Outfitters.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Publishing a blog alongside a report titled The Netflix Effect, Co-CEO Sarandos took the fight to his competitors.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
And not just because one of the leading contestants torched himself and his political livelihood in a bonfire of hubris and stupidity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Beast Games, a spectacle of over-the-top competition, offers 1,000 contestants the chance to win a $5 million prize with other high-value prizes being doled out in the process.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Two old rivals, the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun, played the first game of the league’s 30th season with two potentially budding rivals, the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, capping the night in the third and final game.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
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The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Starmer’s Cabinet colleagues expressed support, and none of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers has made a move.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
-
Dusso doubts that the challengers would’ve won on a campaign solely against the redistricting effort.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contenders. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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