stalking horses

noun

plural of stalking horse
as in competitors

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stalking horses
  1. competitors
  2. entrants
  3. contestants
  4. favorites
  5. entries
  6. qualifiers
  7. candidates
  8. applicants
Noun
  • Erik Shirai cinematically captures the spectacle of strength that is the world of professional sumo wrestling, and shines a rare spotlight on the secrecy of the sport and its formidable competitors.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The fifth-highest payroll, the Toronto Blue Jays – seen as serious competitors for the AL East title – saw their season end before October.
    — Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of competitors
Noun
  • Over the years, competition has built from new entrants to the luxury hotel market in Como, but its hold on guests might have something to do with the Buchers’ attention to service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The private-label gap tends to close quickly, and early entrants often undercut the brand that proved the category.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of entrants
Noun
  • While traditional family recipes and regional specialities are at the heart of the competition, contestants are pushed outside their comfort zones through challenges inspired by fine dining, street food and international cuisines.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In the long-running web series, hosts interview everyday consumers on the street and then negotiate massive product discounts directly with company bosses, securing bargains for contestants.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • To determine the best places to eat on the fairgrounds, our friends at The News & Observer asked readers to nominate their favorites.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Sure, a big backlog of your spooky favorites can be a joy, but keeping up with this slate can feel like a chore.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of favorites
Noun
  • The songs on Purdy also have the tone of journal entries, detailing haggard trips to the grocery store, daydreams about his young daughters’ glamorous adult lives, and observations about the banality of oppression.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Five entries appearing in the notice refer to variations of his name and identify the same individual.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of entries
Noun
  • For the first time in quite a while, the western and eastern Europe qualifiers have been merged into one super qualifier, featuring top teams from both regions.
    — Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of qualifiers
Noun
  • The potential candidates will also hear more cynical arguments in favor of running no matter what.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Kristin Pawlik and Wendy Howerton garnered the most votes among the three candidates in the March nonpartisan judicial race, but neither got more than the 50% required to win outright.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of candidates
Noun
  • When the cast visited Japan in March 2025, Mystery Channel hosted a special event attended by 270 lucky fans chosen from applicants nationwide, giving them the opportunity to meet and interact with the cast.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The process will work by Watrfall execs reviewing every submission and responding to applicants within six weeks.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of applicants
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stalking horse
stalking horses
stalks
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Cite this Entry

“Stalking horses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stalking%20horses. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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