Contender — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kən-ˈten-dər/ con·tend·er

Meaning & Definition of Contender

Contender (noun)

  1. one that contends; especially, a competitor for a championship or high honor

Contender (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award

    "a strong contender for the mayoral position"

    similar: applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, candidate, expectant, hopeful, prospect, seeker
    related: competitor, contestant, entrant, entry, favorite, qualifier, dark horse, spoiler, stalking horse, crown prince, favorite son, claimant, pretender, nominee, running mate
    opposite: noncandidate
    near: incumbent, officeholder, awardee, honoree, inductee, dropout

  2. one who strives for the same thing as another

    "several contenders competing for the title of the city's best Italian restaurant"

    similar: challenger, competition, competitor, contestant, corrival, rival
    related: archrival, finalist, semifinalist, also-ran, entrant, entry, player, adversary, antagonist, opponent
    opposite: noncompetitor
    near: ally, collaborator, partner, teammate, backer, supporter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contender

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contender:

applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, candidate, expectant, hopeful, prospect, seeker, challenger, competition, competitor, contestant, corrival, rival

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Contender

Words with the opposite meaning of Contender:

noncandidate, noncompetitor

Related Words for Contender

entrant, entry, favorite, qualifier, dark horse, spoiler, stalking horse, crown prince, favorite son, claimant, pretender, nominee, running mate, archrival, finalist, semifinalist, also-ran, player, adversary, antagonist, opponent

Near Antonyms of Contender

incumbent, officeholder, awardee, honoree, inductee, dropout, ally, collaborator, partner, teammate, backer, supporter

Origin & Etymology of Contender

contend + -er:2

First known use: 1547

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contender

Frequently Asked Questions about Contender

What does "Contender" mean?

"Contender" means one that contends; especially, a competitor for a championship or high honor. As a noun, it is defined as: one that contends; especially, a competitor for a championship or high honor. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contender"?

Other words for "Contender" include applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, candidate, expectant, hopeful and prospect. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contender" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contender"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contender". Common alternatives include applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, candidate, expectant, hopeful, prospect, seeker and challenger.

What is the opposite of "Contender"?

Antonyms of "Contender" include noncandidate and noncompetitor. Near antonyms include incumbent, officeholder, awardee and honoree.

How do you use "Contender" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contender" in a sentence: "a strong contender for the mayoral position"; "several contenders competing for the title of the city's best Italian restaurant".

Is "Contender" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contender" is a noun.

Is "Contender" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Contender" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Contender"?

"Contender" is pronounced /kən-ˈten-dər/ and divided into syllables as con·tend·er.