Synonyms of contenders

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

• candidates
• applicants
• hopefuls
• aspirants
• nominees
• seekers
• competitors
• campaigners
• prospects
• contestants
• entrants
• entries
• expectants
• qualifiers
• favorites
• appliers
• pretenders
• claimants
• spoilers
• stalking horses
• favorite sons
• crown princes
• running mates
• dark horses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incumbents
• officeholders
• awardees
• inductees
• honorees
• noncandidates
• dropouts

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

• competitors
• contestants
• rivals
• challengers
• finalists
• competitions
• players
• corrivals
• entrants
• entries
• opponents
• semifinalists
• archrivals
• adversaries
• also-rans
• antagonists

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noncompetitors

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contenders

Both teams are undefeated and considered national championship contenders. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

These five rising, behind-the-scenes maestros have worked on major hits for such likely 2027 contenders as Noah Kahan, Ariana Grande and Rosalía — and could be first-time nominees in the category. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

The winner out of the field of six in the Grade 1 Champagne qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for 2-year-olds, the championship race that sometimes provides a sneak peek at the Kentucky Derby contenders the following spring. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

The institute’s annual watch list is one of the sources that most informs pundits and punters about the top contenders. — Mark Lewis, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

With the conference race beginning to take shape, Saturday offers both programs an opportunity to strengthen their place among the league’s early contenders. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

From long-serving public defenders to corporate litigators and law professors, contenders emphasize trial depth, courtroom fairness, mental health insight and modernization, including proposals to use artificial intelligence to ease heavy caseloads. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The sub-$700 laptop market is still heating up, despite industry pressures that are pushing prices up, even for early contenders in the space. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026

This year, the biggest contenders for those awards are likely Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid (the year’s festival darling) and Kane Parsons’ Backrooms (one of the year’s big financial success stories). — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026