CONTESTS Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

contests 1 of 2

noun

plural of contest

as in rivalries

an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another the eternal contest between the forces of good and the forces of evil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tournaments

a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a contest for the gold medal in diving

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in skirmishes

a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truces

contests

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of contest

as in challenges

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of vowed to contest the claim in court

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 contests

Noun

Across five contests, 50 riders and 50 bulls competed to come out on top as South Florida got a dose of PBR competition. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026 Around her, visitors sample Korean food, browse cosmetics, test their knowledge in quizzes and take part in K-pop dance contests. — John Bartlett, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026 Highlights are car show, frog jumping contest, pie and corn eating contests. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 Here's a look at four wildcard contests that could make headlines in November. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 For Trang, who has spent years documenting BMX contests and events as one of the few women working professionally in both photography and videography within the sport, the project marked an exciting creative shift. — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 In the open water swim Phillips won the overall and age group contests. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 Memes about Mangione, or even campus lookalike contests centered on him, fall short of offering a precise moral argument in favor of largely suspending seriousness. — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 Boone says Michaels has been ramping up its classes and events—the store hosts birthday parties, holiday crafting classes, sewing classes, and even seasonal events like pumpkin-decorating contests. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

The decision becomes final after 180 days unless the payer contests the bill. — Mae Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 Water and Oxygen Disruption Phillips also contests the notion that weed fabrics are as breathable as they're advertised to be. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 21 May 2026 The current insurgency directly contests Pakistan’s capacity to deliver security in Balochistan. — Amira Jadoon, The Conversation, 13 May 2026 Here, Sarr successfully contests a 13-foot floater by Tyler Kolek. — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The high court’s decision did not address the underlying merits of the lawsuit, which contests the Department of Homeland Security’s revocation policy. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025 If the president contests that decision, Congress must resolve the dispute, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers to maintain the vice president's authority. — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contests

Noun

Dynastic rivalries, regional rebellions, economic disruption, and the demographic effects of the Black Death all undermined imperial authority.

— Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Professional sports have always thrived on heroes, villains, rivalries and grievances.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rivalries

Noun

The departure symbolizes opportunity, even more so now that the women’s and men’s tournaments are sold separately.

— Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
European leaders have even floated a boycott of FIFA events, while execs behind closed doors are plotting rival tournaments that could leave Infantino on the outside looking in before the next election cycle.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of tournaments

Noun

Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
What followed were decades of a seemingly endless cycle of skirmishes, all-out wars, and (sometimes failed) peace accords.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of skirmishes

Verb

Summary Productivity expert Neal Schore challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that true time loss stems not from poor planning but from internal factors like fear, overthinking, and emotional habits.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
In the three-part docuseries (now streaming on Netflix), Berlinger challenges claims that Manson’s motives behind the killings weren’t to start a race war.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenges

Noun

No away team had won in the previous 14 meetings between the clubs across all competitions.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Many compete in annual competitions, including the Women's Baseball World Cup, and have had stints in regional and seasonal men's leagues.

— Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of competitions

Noun

Rhyne Howard became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 100 made three-pointers in a season, doing it in just 31 games.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Their closest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have been hovering around 8 games behind the Braves.

— Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of games

Noun

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
Ultimately, the immediate need for affordable, abundant solar capacity clashes with the goal of a self-sufficient supply chain, making price the primary driver for now.

— Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of clashes

Verb

Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, also questions what allowing these types of bets says about society.

— Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
In his review of the Greenway, journalist Marty Carlock questions the cohesiveness of the space’s design.

— Ashley Gardini, JSTOR Daily, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of questions

Browse Nearby Words

contesting

contests

context

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Contests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contests. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of contests

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on contests

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

circumscribe

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes