1
as in rivalries
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 tournaments
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 skirmishes
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 challenges
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
vowed to contest the claim in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contests
Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Padres, now three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, have dropped eight of their last 10 contests amid their worst stretch of the season.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
While hot chicken and ice cream eating contests are sure to be intense, the fair is planning to continue its tradition of handing out ribbons for several specialties, including baking, sewing, canning and photography, among others.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
The Sox are 6-6 through the first 12 games of their stretch of 17 contests in 17 days.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
In the 2023 primary election, all of its endorsees won their respective council contests, though not all were successful in the general election.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
The people will still come and the contests will be closer, but the direction of travel for the hosts is harder to call.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
On the Cielo Point Lawn, there’s a variety of family activities, including a caricature artist, a tie-dye station to create colorful T-shirts, watermelon eating contests, and more.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Some contests present stiff competition, others have none In the contests of the Kentucky State Fair's east and west halls, culinary and textile competitions saw the most entries this year, according to results posted to the fair's website.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
The president has been deeply involved in major political contests in the battleground state in recent years, including the last Wisconsin gubernatorial election in 2022.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Padres, now three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, have dropped eight of their last 10 contests amid their worst stretch of the season.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
While hot chicken and ice cream eating contests are sure to be intense, the fair is planning to continue its tradition of handing out ribbons for several specialties, including baking, sewing, canning and photography, among others.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
The Sox are 6-6 through the first 12 games of their stretch of 17 contests in 17 days.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
In the 2023 primary election, all of its endorsees won their respective council contests, though not all were successful in the general election.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
The people will still come and the contests will be closer, but the direction of travel for the hosts is harder to call.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
On the Cielo Point Lawn, there’s a variety of family activities, including a caricature artist, a tie-dye station to create colorful T-shirts, watermelon eating contests, and more.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Some contests present stiff competition, others have none In the contests of the Kentucky State Fair's east and west halls, culinary and textile competitions saw the most entries this year, according to results posted to the fair's website.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
If the president contests that decision, Congress must resolve the dispute, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers to maintain the vice president's authority.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contests
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
-
Premiering in 2011, the edgy comedy follows Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig) as her life unravels while serving as maid of honor for her best friend Lillian Donovan (Maya Rudolph), leading to a string of wedding planning mishaps and bridal party rivalries.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The year-round world calendar is inclusive of at least 30 pickleball tournaments in 2026.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Both span over 50 tournaments annually, spread over five continents, converging about a dozen times at several key tournaments.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Desmond Castle stands watch beyond the village park—its stone battlements and arrow slits recalling Norman skirmishes and feudal lords.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Of all the conflicts Trump has involved himself in since returning to the White House, the skirmishes over a colonial-era border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia may be the smallest.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After decades in cybersecurity at companies like McAfee, Fey founded Island with a methodical approach that challenges startup orthodoxy.—
Tarun Galagali,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
This first-person account of four men's lives, reported from the cell block and the prison yard, challenges our obsession with true crime by delving into the real stories of men serving time.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The story is different in the three UEFA competitions, and nine English clubs had to consider their approach with continental rules in mind, too.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The piracy network showed unauthorized streams of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL games, as well as soccer matches from England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and other European leagues, plus games from Major League Soccer, UEFA competitions, and qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Charlotte has now only managed a total of 14 points in two games.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Josh Moore, a graduate of West Broward High, caught one pass for seven yards and has three catches for 15 yards in two games.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Thailand has been in political turmoil since, ever since deadly border clashes with Cambodian forces.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, his mercurial style and public controversies, from social media firestorms to clashes with regulators, have brought volatility to Tesla’s stock and reputation.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Marketing reports on volume, while sales questions the quality.—
Cameron Partridge,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Virgil van Dijk took the same action to get out of Southampton and nobody questions his attitude.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contests. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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