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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contests
Wpec Staff, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2026
Players can enter contests and earn points toward a Showcase race, which is essentially a boss confrontation.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The offense even delivered more than two runs for the first time in eight games and just the second time in their past 11 contests.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Already the governor’s race had become one of the most expensive and bitter intraparty contests in the country this year.
—Nik Popli, Time, 20 May 2026
While many local elections in North Texas and other contests statewide were decided earlier this month, some primary races are now headed to runoffs, which will be decided on May 26, 2026.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Now in its 79th year, the festival features crab races—including the Governor’s Cup—cooking contests, live music, parades, pageants, running events, and boat docking competitions.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
Those include contests against warm-weather Miami and Houston, as well as Buffalo and Detroit.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The reallocation of Sunday afternoon games will not materially impact the availability of free OTA contests at the level of the individual fan.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
Israel contests the allegation, saying the vessel hasn’t entered port and Ukraine has failed to provide sufficient evidence or legal requests.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 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
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
Noun
The primary is expected to be among the most competitive Democratic contests in Florida this cycle.
—Wpec Staff, Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2026
Players can enter contests and earn points toward a Showcase race, which is essentially a boss confrontation.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
The offense even delivered more than two runs for the first time in eight games and just the second time in their past 11 contests.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Already the governor’s race had become one of the most expensive and bitter intraparty contests in the country this year.
—Nik Popli, Time, 20 May 2026
While many local elections in North Texas and other contests statewide were decided earlier this month, some primary races are now headed to runoffs, which will be decided on May 26, 2026.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Now in its 79th year, the festival features crab races—including the Governor’s Cup—cooking contests, live music, parades, pageants, running events, and boat docking competitions.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
Those include contests against warm-weather Miami and Houston, as well as Buffalo and Detroit.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The reallocation of Sunday afternoon games will not materially impact the availability of free OTA contests at the level of the individual fan.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
The current insurgency directly contests Pakistan’s capacity to deliver security in Balochistan.
—Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
Israel contests the allegation, saying the vessel hasn’t entered port and Ukraine has failed to provide sufficient evidence or legal requests.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 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
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
-
One of the fiercest divisional rivalries in the NFL will have a new look to it.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Cherfilus-McCormick referenced a previous interaction with Wasserman Schultz, signaling that political rivalries could intensify if both enter the race for District 20.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The stadium was built in 2003 with the potential to host soccer tournaments in mind.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
San Diego’s two golf teams in NCAA tournaments played better Tuesday, but continued to be below the cutline entering Wednesday’s final qualifying rounds.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Tempers flared between the teams, leading to a couple of skirmishes.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Here are some photos from the second of three skirmishes in this always entertaining Show Me State clash.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Fewer people are getting SNAP benefits These aren’t the only challenges retailers that accept SNAP benefits face.—
Benjamin Chrisinger,
The Conversation,
19 May 2026
-
The report also challenges the assumption that administrative systems are neutral in their impact on students.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Kids join travel teams, spending hours driving to competitions with other mini-athletes, and parents become super-parents, spending more hours with their children than in previous generations.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
22 May 2026
-
From robot competitions to real-world testing The tea challenge is one of the real-world activities organized as part of the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Its teams play 38 games each per season and its latest domestic broadcast deal was worth $9 billion, at current exchange rates, over a four-year period.—
James Robson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has produced numbers not seen at this stage of the postseason in roughly 50 years.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The protest turned violent with clashes breaking out between pro-Palestinian supporters, who were protesting an event hosted by the synagogue to promote land for sale in Israel, and pro-Israel counterprotesters.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Widespread protests followed, along with some clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Rawlence also questions whether what Colossal is doing is really reviving extinct species.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
19 May 2026
-
Beneath today’s economic pressures remains a lingering question many workers continue asking themselves that questions what a sustainable life actually looks like in an increasingly unstable economy.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contests. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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