contenders

noun

plural of contender
1
as in candidates
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 competitors
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 contenders Trezavant Boyd and James Perrone are both contenders for the Nat Moore Trophy, an award recognizing South Florida's top high school football player. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Fest director Susan Koch is landing more and more top Oscar contenders and talent every year, as well as Oscar pundits to cover them. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026 But this October has shown there are savvy contenders in small markets, too. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Several top 2028 presidential contenders are traveling to various states ahead of the midterm elections. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2026 Google’s streaming behemoth is becoming ever more integral to media development, distribution and marketing plans for most contenders in media, from the biggest Hollywood studios to indie startups. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Khalil Mack isn’t paying any mind to trade rumors linking him to contenders. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Last year, both One Battle After Another and Sinners were nominated, as were contenders from the major streamers, including Netflix and Apple. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 By the end of spring, four main contenders emerged in sophomores Buchanan and SJ Alofaituli and freshmen Congdon and Jackson Cantwell. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contenders
  1. candidates
  2. competitors
  3. contestants
  4. rivals
  5. challengers
Noun
  • Two Sacramento-area congressional candidates have poured record amounts of personal money to fund their campaigns.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing shortlists the candidates, and the community votes on its forum.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of candidates
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
  • Across its 35-season tenure, Dancing With the Stars has only had one All-Star season full of returning contestants.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This year, correspondent Luke Burbank attended the 65th annual competition, in which contestants were of a particularly slimy variety.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • In the race to build the most capable AI, the perception of which lab is ahead can change several times in a few months, as each major release gives rivals a new standard to meet.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Tim Berners-Lee helped put the web into the public domain and later founded the World Wide Web Consortium, where rivals could agree on standards.
    — Bob Pearson, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of rivals
Noun
  • Vang, 41, is one of several younger and progressive challengers seeking to oust longtime incumbents across the country.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Starkey is one of several successful challengers to Republican state senators who voted against Indiana’s mid-census redistricting attempt.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of challengers

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contenders
contending
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Cite this Entry

“Contenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contenders. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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