challengers

noun

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

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 challengers Donalds defeated several primary challengers, including far-right online provocateur James Fishback. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Three other school board members who were on cycle for reelection campaigns — Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas, Roberto Alonso and Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall — did not draw challengers and therefore were not on the ballot. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Progressive challengers Elijah Manley and Oliver Larkin failed resoundingly. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 There is no Democrat in the race, meaning Parks will face write-in challengers Leighton Powers and Jose Elias-Torres in November to represent District 2, which contains Minneola, Montverde and parts of Clermont in the southern part of the county. — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 After months of sharp clashes, the winners of Tuesday’s primaries are now pivoting for another round of battles against new challengers in the November election. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 Mecklenburg’s most interesting races are concentrated in the Charlotte suburbs, where shifting demographics and the influence of national politics have the potential to endanger incumbents and give challengers a chance, Heberlig said. — Mary Ramsey august 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026 Larson became the seventh Democratic House incumbent to lose a primary this year, many of them to younger challengers. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challengers
  1. competitors
  2. contenders
  3. contestants
  4. rivals
Noun
  • Though Unitree is profitable, unlike most of its competitors, its products are mainly being sold to universities and research institutions rather than being used commercially.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Mohammed Zahidullah, chief sustainability officer at DBL Group, warned that Bangladesh risks losing orders to competitors including India, Pakistan and Vietnam as those sourcing markets move more quickly to adopt renewable energy.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of competitors
Noun
  • The six join previously announced Golden Shell contenders from Roberto Bueso, Nicole Garcia, Mikel Gurrea, Maha Harada, Pablo Larraín, Mike Leigh, Hans Petter Moland, Benjamín Naishtat, Javier Ruiz Caldera and Yeşim Ustaoğlu.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Cubs have stabilized after a roller-coaster ride the first three months and are now serious World Series contenders with the Los Angeles Dodgers proving fallible.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of contenders
Noun
  • Higgins was joined by Rausch and fellow Season 4 contestants Monét X Change, Tara Lipinski, Lisa Rinna, Rob Cesternino and Eric Nam for the Deadline conversation.
    — The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The finale features four contestants competing on an American Ninja Warrior–style course, and the other 116 competitors lined up behind them in patriotic jerseys.
    — Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • Davis has previously alleged that, amid mushrooming violence between the two groups, Combs had offered Davis a bounty on the lives of his rivals, Knight and Shakur.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That goal for Celtic not only helped secure a win against their biggest rivals, but also helped them over the line to clinch the Scottish Premiership title by two points.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of rivals

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challenger
challengers
challenges
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Cite this Entry

“Challengers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challengers. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on challengers

Nglish: Translation of challengers for Spanish Speakers

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