contender
noun
con·tend·er
kən-ˈten-dər 
: one that contends
especially
: a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders
Examples of contender in a Sentence
There are several contestants, but only two real contenders.
This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shifts in voter sentiment, unexpected political events and each contender’s capacity to unite or expand the Democratic base will likely determine who ultimately secures the nomination.
—
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The filmmaker is currently gearing up for the French release on November 12 of his 2025 Cannes Palme d’Or contender Eagles of the Republic.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The week also began to make the playoff contenders clearer.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The inaugural Adriatic Film & TV Awards (AFA Awards) have been handed out to honor the region’s best achievements in film and television, with Croatian Oscar contender Fiume o morte!
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The filmmaker is currently gearing up for the French release on November 12 of his 2025 Cannes Palme d’Or contender Eagles of the Republic.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The week also began to make the playoff contenders clearer.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The inaugural Adriatic Film & TV Awards (AFA Awards) have been handed out to honor the region’s best achievements in film and television, with Croatian Oscar contender Fiume o morte!
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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