1
as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal contest between the forces of good and the forces of evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize
a contest for the gold medal in diving
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to challenge
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
vowed to contest the claim in court
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contest
Amindeh Blaise Atabong, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan also address what other fan-favorite contests missing from last season might return.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Kelley Carlson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
The Southern Section begins its second year of contesting playoffs in the sport on Tuesday.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Noun
Unlike past contests, this vote has unfolded against a backdrop of deep sociopolitical unease and visible youth engagement.
—Amindeh Blaise Atabong, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan also address what other fan-favorite contests missing from last season might return.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Fourteen Grade 1 races worth a total of more than $34 million will be contested, drawing top-level horses and their owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys who have hopes of clinching year-end division titles.
—Kelley Carlson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
The Southern Section begins its second year of contesting playoffs in the sport on Tuesday.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest
Noun
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Only a few months ago Salah was deservedly collecting a stack of individual awards after a remarkable campaign which yielded 57 goal involvements (34 goals, 23 assists) in all competitions.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The Courier Journal caught up with Zipperle to find out why Cornbread Hemp took home the New Ideas Award in the 2025 Top Workplaces competition.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Baseball was played as an Olympic sport from 1992 until 2008 and in 2021, and in those years, only minor league players outside each club’s 40-man rosters or free agents were able to participate in the Olympic baseball tournament.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Grand Canyon has played in the last three NCAA tournaments, but takes a step up in competition with its move to the Mountain West Conference this season.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Amazon Prime commentator Kirk Herbstreit said as a guess at Rodgers' response to Jones, as footage of the sideline near-skirmish played for viewers.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Why This Hurts More Than Before US-China trade tensions aren’t just another tariff skirmish.—
Vitalii Savryha,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The same Philadelphia that witnessed the birth of American independence also nurtured competing visions of nationhood—ones that challenged the very foundations of who could claim full citizenship in the republic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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With no presumptive nominee or clear party leader after the 2024 presidential election loss, the Democratic field remains widely contested—a scenario that could reshape the party’s electoral strategy, policy direction and prospects for challenging Republican front-runners in upcoming races.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Aggies have their own rivalry game on the road on the final weekend of the regular season to worry about.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
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While neither team made it to the World Series, their matchup in the wild card round added a new chapter to their rivalry.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The event orbited around a panel, moderated by TIME’s editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs, that discussed how AI could shape the future of fashion—particularly from a customer’s perspective.—
Tharin Pillay,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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In any event, that shows you who is pulling the strings over there.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As soon as a battle or a war has been fought, victors and losers alike begin to tell different stories.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Linked by the fire, a cashier, fire-fighter, district attorney and student battle to prevent tragedy, the blaze’s consequences still roiling two decades later.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Julie Mayhew, owner of Mayville Farm, a small farm sanctuary in Racine, said she's publicly questioned Shalom for years.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Bessent was questioned by Democrats and some Republicans for his support, in the context of Argentina being a competitor to the US in exporting soybeans to China.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contest. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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