CONTESTANT Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

contestant

noun

kən-ˈte-stənt

Definition of contestant

as in competitor

one who strives for the same thing as another three contestants will compete on live TV for the cash prize

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 contestant Watch contestants eat as many hot dogs as possible while enjoying giveaways, good food and drinks. — Kayla Rivera, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 The season 8 contestant lasted just four days in the villa after an old video of her using a racial slur came to light. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 The Golden Ticket will see twelve contestants, each with a partner of their choosing, step through the gates of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory to face a series of challenges. — Peter White, Deadline, 30 June 2026 With fans rooting for Carl and Aniya to rekindle their romance, curiosity about the Casa Amor contestant is at an all-time high. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for contestant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contestant

Noun

Anita Edmondson, a business owner and teacher who previously served on the Poway City Council, was elected to fill the council’s District 2 seat once again in the recent election against competitor Vanessa Springett.

— Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Then check whether your brand gets mentioned, how it's described, whether competitors are included and which sources get cited.

— Dr. Bin Tang, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of competitor

Noun

Visitors offered name suggestions for Odorysseus on the Huntington’s Instagram page, where contenders included Stinkerbell, Gagatha and Count Flatula, among others.

— Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Her competitive edge sharpened after hearing the news that a nearby state, Nevada, was a top contender for the first slot on the calendar.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Definition of contender

Noun

Santos is an intelligent player with lots of potential, and United nabbing him from a ‘Big Six’ rival would be the sort of clever deal that can keep them agile and competitive elsewhere in the summer transfer market.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 July 2026
The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of rival

Browse Nearby Words

contestable

contestant

contestants

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contestant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contestant. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of contestant

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on contestant

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes