Synonyms of contests

contests 1 of 2

noun

plural of contest

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

• rivalries
• competitions
• battles
• duels
• struggles
• confrontations
• contentions
• conflicts
• matches
• wars
• sweepstakes
• warfares
• dogfights
• clashes
• strifes
• ball games
• face-offs
• combats
• tugs-of-war
• showdowns
• debates
• grapples
• disputes
• disputations
• horse races
• collisions
• quarrels
• arguments
• nail-biters
• frictions
• controversies
• discords
• disagreements
• wrangles
• rows
• dissensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• harmonies
• concords
• peaces

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

• tournaments
• competitions
• games
• events
• matches
• sports
• championships
• sweepstakes
• bouts
• tourneys
• matchups
• meets
• battles
• races
• athletics
• skirmishes
• nationals
• scrimmages
• semifinals
• tussles
• outings
• derbies
• finals
• struggles
• heats
• marathons
• runs
• conflicts
• triathlons
• rounds
• rallies
• tugs-of-war
• gymkhanas
• runoffs
• field days
• volleys
• play-offs
• rubbers
• decathlons
• biathlons
• nightcaps
• ultramarathons
• sudden deaths
• sets
• round-robins
• seesaws
• classics
• pentathlons
• heptathlons
• dead heats
• photo finishes

3

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups

what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmishes
• clashes
• fights
• battles
• scrimmages
• struggles
• brawls
• tussles
• scuffles
• duels
• dustups
• confrontations
• conflicts
• altercations
• frays
• fracases
• scraps
• combats
• scrums
• quarrels
• pitched battles
• disputes
• fistfights
• jousts
• slugfests
• blows
• hassles
• melees
• fisticuffs
• affrays
• broils
• controversies
• battles royal
• punch-outs
• squabbles
• tangles
• mix-ups
• spats
• face-offs
• ruckuses
• donnybrooks
• rows
• rough-and-tumbles
• wrangles
• catfights
• punch-ups
• free-for-alls
• arguments
• disagreements
• ructions
• contretemps
• tiffs
• kickups
• cross fires
• fallings-out
• misunderstandings
• handgrips
• grapples
• argle-bargles
• argy-bargies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truces

contests

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of contest

as in challenges

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of

vowed to contest the claim in court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenges
• questions
• disputes
• queries
• protests
• calls in question
• doubts
• oppugns
• impeaches
• objects (to)
• fights
• kicks (about)
• opposes
• resists
• combats
• mistrusts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believes
• accepts
• embraces
• supports
• swallows
• backs
• defends
• champions
• advocates
• promotes
• endures
• tolerates
• abides
• stomachs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contests

Noun

Where Iran ads are most prevalent While the Iran war ads made up about 5% of the total TV spots aired across the competitive races, some contests leaned into the topic heavily. — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

While the Iran war ads made up about 5% of the total TV spots aired across the competitive races, some contests leaned into the topic heavily. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

The economics of those contests, however, couldn’t be more different. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Key region contests and big South Georgia showdowns headline Friday night’s slate. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Battles over voter rolls, citizenship and federal authority There are secretary of state contests in 26 states this November. — Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Seth Jones logged two assists as the Panthers won consecutive contests for the first time this season. — John Devine, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

However, height and rated generating capacity are different contests. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026

Larger-than-life Halloween celebrations rise up every October like the Great Pumpkin (or a benevolent spooky spirit or two) to captivate visitors with parades, caramel apples, costume contests, and more. — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

In giving form to their resistance to Bicentennial events, the anti-catalog retrospectively contests any national fascia union in aesthetics, even though the role of the state was a spine. — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The threat posed by the Greens will be tested next week when the party’s leader, Zack Polanski, contests an election to become the next Member of Parliament (MP) in London’s Holborn and St Pancras constituency – Starmer’s seat for over a decade. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

The previous winning country contests a challenger country, and yacht clubs compete against each other to represent their respective countries. — Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

The family’s future is in limbo as Jeanie Buss contests her five siblings’ plans to sell their remaining stake of the team. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Water and Oxygen Disruption Phillips also contests the notion that weed fabrics are as breathable as they're advertised to be. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 21 May 2026

The current insurgency directly contests Pakistan’s capacity to deliver security in Balochistan. — Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026

Here, Sarr successfully contests a 13-foot floater by Tyler Kolek. — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

The high court’s decision did not address the underlying merits of the lawsuit, which contests the Department of Homeland Security’s revocation policy. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025