as in finalist
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Recent Examples of semifinalist
Brandon was recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef in the Mountains.
—
Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bruins will avoid Big Ten matchups against reigning national champion Indiana and College Football Playoff semifinalist Ohio State.
—Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Even Shelton, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist who won his first ATP Masters 1000 title at an Alcaraz-and-Sinner-less Canadian Open last summer, didn’t kid himself about being far off the pace that the world’s two best players have set.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
On Monday, Indienne chef Sujan Sarkar, whose recently opened Nadu was just named a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, said the Banchet award reaffirms his team’s culinary direction and mission.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Yantis had a 32-15 record at Prestonwood and was a state runner-up in 2022 and a state semifinalist in 2023.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Tusk,of San Francisco’s Quince, is also a semifinalist.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
David, a University of Colorado political science graduate, had met Saperstein, a former executive chef and onetime James Beard Award semifinalist (for Pompano Beach’s Cafe Maxx), a decade earlier.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Gentry was the only Memphian or Memphis establishment to make the 2026 James Beard semifinalist list.
—Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 21 Jan. 2026
Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
The Bruins will avoid Big Ten matchups against reigning national champion Indiana and College Football Playoff semifinalist Ohio State.
—Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Even Shelton, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist who won his first ATP Masters 1000 title at an Alcaraz-and-Sinner-less Canadian Open last summer, didn’t kid himself about being far off the pace that the world’s two best players have set.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
On Monday, Indienne chef Sujan Sarkar, whose recently opened Nadu was just named a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, said the Banchet award reaffirms his team’s culinary direction and mission.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Yantis had a 32-15 record at Prestonwood and was a state runner-up in 2022 and a state semifinalist in 2023.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Tusk,of San Francisco’s Quince, is also a semifinalist.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
David, a University of Colorado political science graduate, had met Saperstein, a former executive chef and onetime James Beard Award semifinalist (for Pompano Beach’s Cafe Maxx), a decade earlier.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Gentry was the only Memphian or Memphis establishment to make the 2026 James Beard semifinalist list.
—Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for semifinalist
finalist
Noun
-
Jane Ciabattari Talks to the Author of Vigil Those who are regular readers of George Saunders’ Story Club Substack were in for a treat on the tenth of December 2025 (a date chosen in honor of his story collection, a National Book Award finalist and Story Prize winner).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
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Her debut book The Inheritors, about South Africa, won the 2023 PEN/America John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction and was a 2024 finalist for South Africa's top literary prize, the Sunday Times Award.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Semifinalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semifinalist. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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