1
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
a strong contender for the mayoral position
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in competitor
one who strives for the same thing as another
several contenders competing for the title of the city's best Italian restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contender
The Cavaliers and Knicks are seen as two of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference amid the injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
—
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
EssilorLuxottica could definitely be a contender for Armani, too.
—Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Shapiro has been seen as a potential contender for the Democratic Presidential ticket in 2028.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2025
But Nigeria and Cameroon — and for that matter, Ghana and Ivory Coast — have not become regular contenders as once hoped.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
EssilorLuxottica could definitely be a contender for Armani, too.
—Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Shapiro has been seen as a potential contender for the Democratic Presidential ticket in 2028.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2025
But Nigeria and Cameroon — and for that matter, Ghana and Ivory Coast — have not become regular contenders as once hoped.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender
Noun
-
The majority of interested clients are eligible candidates for PRP and PRF; however, those with blood disorders, autoimmune conditions, infections or taking blood-thinning medication should consult with their aesthetic provider first.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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Three of the board’s trustees will be elected to full, four-year terms from a field of four candidates, including incumbents Linda Hoskins Sutton and Brad Isnard and challengers Joe Caiharr and Geoffrey Kump.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On the surface, Çiftlik Bank—Turkish for Farm Bank—was little more than a FarmVille rip-off; the functionality for tending to digital crops and livestock was lifted more or less straight from their competitor.—
Moisés Naím,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Bessent was questioned by Democrats and some Republicans for his support, in the context of Argentina being a competitor to the US in exporting soybeans to China.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Bachelor season 19 contestant, Jade Roper Tolbert, who runs her own cosmetics company, was also a judge.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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The final round of voting is now open, so take a look at the contestants and cast your vote for your favorite cat and dog in South Florida.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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American has fallen behind large rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in the post-Covid luxury travel boom that has taken Seoul spa vacations and 40th birthday bashes abroad out of the chat and armed millions of consumers with high-end rewards credit cards.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
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Analysts say his intervention stopped escalating hostilities, though tensions persist in what remains a fragile, ongoing cold conflict between the longtime regional rivals.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Absent replacing party sinecurists with able, energetic people, nothing can keep candidates from adopting this agenda on their own—as some younger primary challengers of Democratic incumbents are already starting to do.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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Jorgensen was elected to the council in 2021 and is seeking a second term against five challengers.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contender. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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