CHALLENGER Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

challenger

noun

Definition of challenger

as in contender

one who strives for the same thing as another the third-party challenger in the presidential election

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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 challenger Adding to the uncertainty, Israel's election appeared headed for a political stalemate, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, securing a clear path to a governing majority. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026 Netanyahu’s main challenger, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, opposes Palestinian statehood and has pledged to destroy Hamas’ military wing. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Yotova's challenger is economist Gyurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and caretaker prime minister who led the country in early 2026. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 The accusations, which Gomez denies, have left the 51-year-old Eagle Rock Democrat vulnerable to an upstart challenger from Highland Park who earned a reputation for antagonism while serving on the area’s neighborhood council. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Risch initially shook the challenger’s hand, then pulled back and brushed past him. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2026 Mayor Karen Bass and her challenger, Councilmember Nithya Raman, have both supported calls for an independent audit and have vowed to make bills cheaper for residents. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 His main challenger is Gadi Eisenkot, 66, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces who leads the centrist Yashar party and has positioned himself as an alternative to Netanyahu's leadership. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Will White, at large, is set to face five challengers in his first election after being appointed to the council in May 2025. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenger

Noun

Beyond that, this hilarious, heartfelt two-hander is a strong best-picture contender, and Malkovich, who took the Venice Film Festival’s Volpi Cup for best actor, is also a frontrunner for his charming, slippery turn.

— Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Home Harvest is the latest contender in this indoor smart garden space, with two appliances designed to turn microgreens, herbs, and salads into something halfway between a countertop convenience and a gardening project.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of contender

Noun

There’s something so unsettling about a game show where the contestants’ well-being is not considered, and The Tonight Show leaned into that uncanniness to great effect.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Other celebs to have been announced include Celebrity Traitors contestant Joe Lycett and the Sugababes.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of contestant

Noun

Anthropic’s future — and that of its competitors — relies heavily on the availability of computing components to train its models and power AI chatbots and agents.

— Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
On a per-range basis, a customer will be able to buy a fourth-gen GM EV for less money than a competitor’s profitable model without relying on subsidies.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of competitor

Browse Nearby Words

challenged

challenger

challengers

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Style

“Challenger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenger. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of challenger

noun

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