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
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
But the Rebels, who never trailed in the game, didn’t allow another Texas bucket until a late dunk by Nic Codie in the waning moments of the contest.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Gabriel Velasquez Neira, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The language of ballot measures has been hotly contested for several key issues in the state.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contest
Noun
Sacramento and Indiana went into the contest with the worst records in the NBA and only a half-game between them in a race to the bottom.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026
But the Rebels, who never trailed in the game, didn’t allow another Texas bucket until a late dunk by Nic Codie in the waning moments of the contest.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The confidentiality of police officers was contested in court, leading to the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling.
—Gabriel Velasquez Neira, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The language of ballot measures has been hotly contested for several key issues in the state.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest
Noun
-
That is to say that the way the current system is set up distorts the healthcare economy in ways that don’t allow for much price competition, with ever-rising insurance premiums as the result.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Several regional nations have recently become key targets in a great power competition between the US and China for greater control of the continent’s resources.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Green Wave shot 6 for 24 on offense in the first 20 minutes and looked like a team that came into the tournament on a four-game losing streak.—
Langston Wertz Jr,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Heat remains outside of play-in tournament territory, with just 15 regular-season games left to play.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The curbs were initially enacted in 2020 after a border skirmish escalated tensions between the world’s two most populous nations.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The incident occurred during a skirmish between counterprotesters and an anti-Islam protest led by far-right activist Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Because college football players can’t unionize and bargain rules, anti-tampering and other prohibitions aren’t exempt from antitrust scrutiny and can be challenged as unreasonable restraints on trade and price-fixing schemes.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Record highs may be challenged in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, with temperatures near 90 degrees, AccuWeather said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Baseball’s richest rivalry still draws national fascination.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Despite long-standing rivalries among senior Iranian politicians — many of whom hold powerful political positions and control significant economic resources — these factions quickly set aside their differences and pledged loyalty to him.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The event was originally scheduled to take place on the same date, but at a location more than 8,000 miles away at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The clubs, civic organizations and community events that once brought our forefathers together are largely fading away.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The war inside The game was ultimately decided by the battle inside the paint as TCU’s frontline of Punch and junior center Xavier Edmonds scrapped and clawed with Kansas’ talented big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
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He was involved in multiple relegation battles and believes having the right mindset is key.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, that conclusion has been questioned by some critics.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Obscuring the title of the organization also caused few to question why the Democrat’s name had replaced that of baseball great Roberto Clemente, who was killed in a 1972 plane crash when flying to Nicaragua to deliver aid to earthquake victims.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contest. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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