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

The laptop's 40-core GPU also won most of its contests against the discrete Nvidia graphics units in the ProArt and ThinkPad laptops, but by far narrower margins, even losing in some select contests. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026 The Cold War that followed was a forty-year contest between two answers to the same question, and the side that eventually won over China, Russia, and Vietnam, for good reason, was the one that produced a middle class. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2026

Verb

These elections will also be the first local vote contested by the MK Party, led by former South African President Jacob Zuma. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 Trump’s defeat in 2020—which was both predicted and predictable—proved that even an across-the-board loss on Election Night might not be decisive with a President willing to do anything to contest it. — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest

Noun

In the team competition, Granada Hills edged Palisades by one stroke, 416-417, to end the Dolphins’ five-year reign, which was one short of the City record set by Granada Hills from 2001-06 and equaled by the Highlanders from 2011-16.

— Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
The only worthy competition, so far, is Adults, a zanier, higher-energy show in the tradition of Broad City and Happy Endings—and one that gained some depth in this year’s great second season.

— Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of competition

Noun

While the Falcons played some 800 miles away back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Strickland participated in a bowling tournament planned well in advance of the team’s schedule release in 2022.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
The International Ice Hockey Federation provided updates on Belarusian and Russian athletes in its upcoming world tournaments, including next month's World Junior Championships.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of tournament

Noun

After a bloody skirmish with the orcs and wild men, an imposing figure arrives on horseback, grabbing one of the warriors and hurling him at Galadriel’s approaching horse.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was involved in a skirmish on Monday night.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

Some young Catholics involved in local church groups hoped the sight of a pope drawing crowds would challenge Uruguay's image as a country indifferent to religion.

— ISABEL DEBRE, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
In a new study, researchers at the University of Ottawa have proposed this unconventional picture, which challenges some of modern physics’ biggest assumptions.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of challenge

Noun

The Chiefs-Jets all-time series is certainly not considered one of the great NFL rivalries, but the teams have a long history.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Like Cassavetes, Jaglom tended to be almost single-mindedly focused on interpersonal relationships — romantic ones, but also friendships and rivalries between men and between women.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of rivalry

Noun

Its arrival split men's professional golf, with the PGA Tour suspending members who competed in LIV events.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
The incident does not necessarily indicate a fundamental limitation of the G1 platform, particularly given Unitree’s suggestion that the development model may not have been properly tuned for the event.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of event

Noun

The letter was shared as Haitian police and foreign forces continue to battle gangs, with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé announcing on X late Friday that a gang leader was killed, without identifying him.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
The attention surfaced new accusations of misconduct against sitting members and thrust a spotlight onto others that were part of ongoing legal battles.

— Anna Liss-Roy, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of battle

Verb

But innovation does not come from a system that effectively discourages questioning.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
The Iran war explains part of that, but investors also question a government and Congress with no plan to back the debt with future surpluses.

— Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026