CONTESTANT Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

contestant

noun

kən-ˈte-stənt

Definition of contestant

as in competitor

one who strives for the same thing as another three contestants will compete on live TV for the cash prize

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 contestant At 12, Sophie was the youngest contestant in the North Carolina State Fair’s annual tobacco stringing contest, which pays homage to a way of life that was already largely past when her parents were kids. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Does anyone believe that a new chief of staff, with an untested relationship with Trump, would survive any longer than an Apprentice contestant? — Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 19 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 She’s represented by Port City Models and has walked in multicultural fashion shows — a different résumé from former Miss Universe contestant Martínez Fournier or New York runway model Tinsley. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contestant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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

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

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

Definition of challenger

Browse Nearby Words

contestable

contestant

contestants

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Style

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

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Synonyms of contestant

noun

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