CONTEST Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

contest 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌtest

Definition of contest

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

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

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

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

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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 contest

Noun

Barack Obama, for example, was not the candidate with the most elite Democratic endorsements in 2008 but won that nomination contest anyway. — Seth Masket, Denver Post, 9 July 2026 Nominations open Thursday in a Labour Party election to replace Keir Starmer as Britain’s prime minister, a contest in which there is expected to be just one candidate. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Verb

With two races at Zandvoort, three in Austin, and the final two rounds in Vegas still to contest, Felbermayr is well-positioned to challenge for the championship in her second and final year in the series (F1 Academy has a two-year term limit). — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 9 July 2026 In all, 76 Las Vegas Summer League games involving all 30 NBA teams will be contested over the next 11 days in UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center as well as the adjacent Cox Pavilion. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for contest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest

Noun

There are more moments to come, with SoFi Stadium slated to host Super Bowl LXI in February and then, in 2028, to stage the Olympic Opening Ceremony and the Olympic swimming competition.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
He was appointed for that competition’s 2022 final, having taken charge of the Europa League final a year earlier.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

Cardwell has anchored the defense for a team that could contend for its second Summer League championship in six years after winning the tournament in 2021.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Captain Tim Ream entered the media area after the defeat, a shell of a man who had spent the previous days proudly leading the team throughout this tournament, playing in four US matches at this World Cup.

— David Close, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Definition of tournament

Noun

The skirmishes date back to shortly after Haaland’s arrival at Manchester City in July 2022.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s point toward Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner amid a heated skirmish during their game has gone mega viral.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of skirmish

Noun

The TikTok edits, the outfit identification threads, the contestant rivalries trending on X by the end of an episode, all of it turns 60 minutes of passive viewing into a multi-platform conversation that runs all week.

— Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Rattín’s defiant gesture at Wembley also marked the beginning of the football rivalry between Argentina and England.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

The stadium has been packed, the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival downtown has seen record attendance, and watch parties and other events have spread across the region.

— Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
The traffic control worker minimum wage, which only affects workers handling traffic at major happenings like concerts and sporting events, is more than $70 an hour.

— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of event

Noun

True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
There have been naval battles and beheadings and aerial battles and, well, more beheadings.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

Buchhorn’s conviction was overturned in 2021, after the Court of Appeals of Kansas found Buchhorn’s defense did not sufficiently question Erik Mitchell of Frontier Forensics Midwest, an independent contractor who performed Oliver’s autopsy.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Trump has routinely teased the possibility of seeking a third term since returning to office and openly questioned whether he would be allowed to do so.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026