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

Spoelstra said the plan is to play some of the rotation regulars in the exhibition contest. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Although the contest is defined as nonpartisan — and party affiliations won’t be listed on the ballot — the candidates’ affiliations are likely to decide the race, in the view of political analysts. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

In Kansas City, fans will see the Ravens-Cowboys game from Brazil that will follow the Chiefs-Dolphins contest on KCTV. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Others have created a multimodal version of it using text, images, quotations, citations, audio, video, or other media to show how the idea is inherited, transformed, contested, and reimagined. — Saurabh Anand, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2026