Synonyms of contest

contest 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌtest 

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

• competition
• rivalry
• battle
• struggle
• duel
• contention
• warfare
• confrontation
• war
• conflict
• match
• sweepstakes
• strife
• showdown
• face-off
• clash
• ball game
• tug-of-war
• combat
• dogfight
• debate
• grapple
• dispute
• disputation
• horse race
• friction
• argument
• collision
• quarrel
• nail-biter
• controversy
• discord
• row
• disagreement
• dissension
• wrangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• harmony
• concord

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

• tournament
• competition
• event
• game
• match
• championship
• sweepstakes
• tourney
• bout
• sport
• matchup
• meet
• battle
• race
• skirmish
• athletics
• semifinal
• tussle
• tug-of-war
• derby
• struggle
• scrimmage
• final
• open
• outing
• marathon
• conflict
• triathlon
• play-off
• gymkhana
• pentathlon
• round
• decathlon
• runoff
• biathlon
• heat
• field day
• ultramarathon
• national(s)
• round-robin
• rubber
• heptathlon
• volley
• seesaw
• rally
• nightcap
• sudden death
• dead heat
• run
• set
• photo finish
• classic

3

as in skirmish

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmish
• battle
• clash
• fight
• struggle
• fray
• tussle
• scuffle
• brawl
• scrimmage
• duel
• dustup
• conflict
• confrontation
• fracas
• combat
• altercation
• scrum
• scrap
• dispute
• quarrel
• pitched battle
• face-off
• battle royal
• blows
• fistfight
• slugfest
• rough-and-tumble
• hassle
• melee
• joust
• free-for-all
• fisticuffs
• row
• affray
• mix-up
• spat
• controversy
• tangle
• donnybrook
• squabble
• ruckus
• punch-up
• broil
• catfight
• argument
• cross fire
• tiff
• wrangle
• contretemps
• punch-out
• ruction
• falling-out
• misunderstanding
• disagreement
• grapple
• kickup
• handgrips
• argle-bargle
• argy-bargy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truce

contest

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈtest 

as in to challenge

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of

vowed to contest the claim in court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenge
• question
• dispute
• impeach
• query
• doubt
• call in question
• protest
• oppugn
• fight
• resist
• kick (about)
• object (to)
• oppose
• combat
• mistrust

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believe
• accept
• support
• defend
• embrace
• swallow
• back
• promote
• advocate
• champion
• endure
• abide
• tolerate
• stomach

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contest

Noun

There’s still a way to go in this year’s Democratic primaries, not to mention the party’s 2028 presidential nominating contest. — David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

So the players have to lose every contest once to get to Room 8 and discover how to claim ultimate victory, then win every contest to get back to the beginning and correctly count some rice. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Verb

The modern corporation, the series LLC, and the public benefit corporation were each contested when introduced, then widely adopted. — John Nay, Fortune, 14 July 2026

This time, though, Le Pen’s views and her far-right party are more mainstream, and the question of who is French is contested even beyond France’s borders. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 13 July 2026