1
as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal contest between the forces of good and the forces of evil
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tournament
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 skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to challenge
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 contest
Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Tickets to the taping will only be available to about 2,000 fans via entry into the contest.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The majority said the government did not provide migrants targeted under the wartime authority with enough time or information to contest their cases.
—James Hill, ABC News, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Noun
Israel’s Yuval Raphael defied expectations to come in second in the annual Eurovision song contest on May 17, narrowly losing out to Austria after being buoyed by the popular vote but also drawing points from the juries in 14 countries.
—Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2025
Tickets to the taping will only be available to about 2,000 fans via entry into the contest.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
Verb
So much so that during the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Hall decided to contest the heptathlon and 400-meter hurdles.
—Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The majority said the government did not provide migrants targeted under the wartime authority with enough time or information to contest their cases.
—James Hill, ABC News, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest
Noun
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The event is the world's biggest music competition, watched by more than 160 million people across the world.—
John Revill,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Evenings bring the magic of Highlander’s signature programs—think talent shows, campfires, and spirited cabin competitions.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
Noun
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What if Ronaldo inks a contract with a team just for the duration of the tournament?—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Who better than the 18-time major champion himself to discuss what McIlroy's absence means to him as the organizer of the tournament?—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Past skirmishes with Pakistan had allowed Modi to construct a triumphalist narrative of strength that played to his domestic audience.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2025
-
Fever star Caitlin Clark and Reese got into a skirmish during the game, which sparked boos from the home crowd.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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This is an important step taken by France to challenge Iran’s hostage diplomacy.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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The character is a powerful metaphor of oppressed women, challenging patriarchal norms, and has emerged as a symbol of female strength and resilience within the Indian horror genre.—
Sunil Sadarangani,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Noun
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At times, the rivalry between the players has become the biggest topic of discussion in sports and eclipsed the athletic world, raising issues of race and gender equality.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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This is a space that is ripe for standardization, the entry of new players in the market, and more vendor rivalries and drama.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
20 May 2025
Noun
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This year’s event will be headlined by R&B heartthrob Mario and Hip-Hop vet Jadakiss with additional performances by house music icons and more.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
21 May 2025
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Implement Real-Time Security Observability • Employ real-time logging and monitoring in cloud environments to track security events.—
Harini Shankar,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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As a 60-person battle royale, matches can be extremely long and, in tournament play, repeat over and over for hours until a winning team can be crowned.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
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These include: Battlefields of the American Revolution: This pane of 15 Forever stamps features artwork and photography commemorating the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown, marking the upcoming quarter-millennium of the American Revolution.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Inside the car were three people identified as Yasmin Cobb, 18, Josiah Sneed, 21 and Clifton Ray Foster Jr., 25, who all have Texas addresses listed on their arrest reports All three were detained and taken to the HSI office for questioning.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
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On Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by several public health experts.—
Carla K. Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contest. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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