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
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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
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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
Steve Drummond, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
With less than two months out to Election Day, this year's elections -- ranging from hot-button mayoral and gubernatorial contests to a vote over new congressional maps -- are set to ramp up as candidates begin to make their final pitches to voters.
—Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Aryna Sabalenka curbed her natural instincts to beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in an absorbing women’s final, before Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner contested their third Grand Slam final in a row — a record in the Open Era of men’s tennis.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Noun
Thanks again to students, teachers and educators for being a part of our annual contest!
—Steve Drummond, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
With less than two months out to Election Day, this year's elections -- ranging from hot-button mayoral and gubernatorial contests to a vote over new congressional maps -- are set to ramp up as candidates begin to make their final pitches to voters.
—Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
As the Lions scored a garbage time TD with 55 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Green Bay’s easy 26-13 victory wasn’t as closely contested as the score would seem to indicate.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Aryna Sabalenka curbed her natural instincts to beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in an absorbing women’s final, before Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner contested their third Grand Slam final in a row — a record in the Open Era of men’s tennis.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest
Noun
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The fourth season will be played from June 18-July 18, 2026, the preferred slot in the calendar for MLC with not much competition from other domestic leagues.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The number of local homes put up for sale soared, boosting competition among sellers.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After that, Alcaraz brought the hammer down with his otherwise impenetrable delivery, which was broken only three times across the tournament.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
But Sunday’s final was a reminder that a whole tournament is a heavy weight for any two players to carry — even Sinner and Alcaraz.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But over the past few years, conservatives have used the committee as a personal tool to subvert and challenge GOP leaders.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Foreign-aid organizations challenged the administration's ability to refuse to spend funds already allocated by Congress.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The rivalry itself has been tight.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Djokovic ultimately emerged as the third man, which enriched the dynamic and added layers, creating three rivalries where previously there had been one.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On Wednesday afternoon, Turning Point USA founder and right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
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The latest commitment will allow Startup Junkie to continue the program for three years and expand the team's capacity to serve clients and prospective borrowers with more resources, hands-on support and events.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When a person is gravely ill, they’re often forced to fight two battles, one against their sickness and the other against the insurance company.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Comer has questioned the former president’s use of the autopen for pardons and executive orders and whether his aides covered up his cognitive decline.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
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Attorneys will question three sets of 60 people to settle on twelve jurors and four alternates.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contest. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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