challengers

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

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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 Season 42 continues on Wednesday with Richard Nguyen returning as champion to face two new challengers. Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Three Democratic incumbents have now lost to progressive challengers as midterms season kicks into high gear. David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 Democratic challengers questioned his absence ahead of what is expected to be one of the most competitive midterm congressional campaigns in the country. Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Veteran Democrats face new challengers hoping to use the party’s increasing anti-Washington interests to their advantage. Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 June 2026 Netanyahu has seen multiple challengers rise on waves of public hope and support, only to fall short against his political skills. Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 With SummerSlam looming, how WWE books the finish will shape both challengers' momentum heading into August. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 No challengers Six state representatives in Broward County, all Democrats, all won reelection to new terms when the Republican Party didn’t field any challengers against them by the June 12 deadline. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 Paul’s confidence was growing, and the left tackle seemingly responded to his challengers by laughing at their efforts in a mocking manner. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challengers
Noun
  • Comcast faces competitors beyond traditional telecommunications firms, including AT&T and T-Mobile.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Cisco has built and is refining an AI tool for investor relations that analyzes its financial history alongside competitors’ earnings calls and can anticipate likely questions from specific analysts.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Such has been such a dramatic overhaul in the conference that the Heat at one moment can be viewed as contenders for the NBA Finals and at another the perception quite reasonably can be … right back in the play-in pool.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Elsewhere, general classification contenders Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) all produced good performances to stay within 40 seconds of the leading pair.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Last year, contestants Cierra Ortega and Yulissa Escobar were dismissed from the show for their use of racist slurs.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • In last year’s Season 7, two contestants, Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, were also caught using racial slurs and had to exit the Villa.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • The club is one year into PSG Labs, 15 years into the broader brand project, and still operating in a country where broadcast television revenue—the financial backbone of English and Spanish football—is dramatically lower than its rivals.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • Targeting political rivals The Justice Department’s role in the IRS lawsuit is one example of how Trump has decreed that executive branch employees should act as agents of his will.
    Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

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“Challengers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challengers. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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