contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər How to pronounce contender (audio)
Synonyms of contendernext
: one that contends
especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders

Synonyms of contender

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Examples of contender in a Sentence

There are several contestants, but only two real contenders. This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The game, a matchup of championship contenders and the last two NFL MVPs, lived up to its billing as a seismic showdown — and perhaps provided a preview of Super Bowl 61. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 The 2027 Grammys’ Album of the Year category will once again be stacked with a handful of top contenders. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 Enterprise contenders like LandSpace, Space Pioneer, i-Space, and Galactic Energy are working to win contracts for national megaconstellations such as Guowang and Qianfan. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 At least half the original candidates in Alaska’s crowded governor’s race took positions critical of trawling or bycatch as contenders across the political spectrum called for tighter restrictions. — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contender

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contender was in 1547

Rhymes for contender

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Browse Nearby Words

contend
contender
contend with
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Cite this Entry

“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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