contender

noun

kən-ˈten-dər How to pronounce contender (audio)
Definition of contendernext
1
as in candidate
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award a strong contender for the mayoral position

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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.
Recent Examples of contender Both are well behind perennial state-title contender South Dade, which has 199 points. — Steve Gorches, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025 The Seahawks will immediately be a contender for free agent quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers and others searching for a new team. — Scott Thompson, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025 The Knicks now fall to 0-8 this season against legitimate championship contenders. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025 The pressing question was whether Lucas, the 36-year-old son of former NBA star and coach John Lucas, would remain with the Blue Devils through the post-season, as the Blue Devils are a national title contender. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contender
  1. candidate
  2. competitor
  3. contestant
  4. rival
Noun
  • The mean number of external letters per candidate was 6.25.
    — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Just whittling down a potential pool of hundreds of jury candidates is expected to last as many as three days at the end of April, the judge said, before the final panel undergoes voir dire questioning, scheduled to begin the first few days of May.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of candidate
Noun
  • In fact, research shows that companies putting talent at the heart of their business strategy achieve higher total shareholder returns than their competitors.
    — Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The event, which included more than 90 competitors from sixth to eighth grade, brought together students from public and independent schools countywide at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in San Diego.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of competitor
Noun
  • And Bong is the wrong pop artist to convey cultural dissent — as Kendrick Lamar did in his controversial Super Bowl Halftime Show that portrayed black Americans as video game figures resembling Mickey in his space suit and those contestants in Squid Game TV series.
    — Armond White, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Further, protecting contestants from isolation and being exemplified or tokenized – at all levels of productions – is needed to provide greater accountability when portraying the raw realities of LGBTQ people on screen in a reality setting.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of contestant
Noun
  • The resort’s sculpture garden rivals those found in museums.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • No, but Chicago Bears have division rivals’ attention with offseason roster rebuild.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of rival

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Cite this Entry

“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contender. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of contender for Spanish Speakers

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