1
as in competition
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal contest between the forces of good and the forces of evil
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tournament
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
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3
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
what mighty contests have been waged on trivial matters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to challenge
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
vowed to contest the claim in court
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of contest
Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
An active El Nino brought heavy rains to the event all week, including the closest-to-the-pin contest, where a strong storm chased spectators from that event.
—Visual Editors, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Trump has publicly questioned or aired inaccurate claims about the 2020 election results, leading many within his party to also contest the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for contest 
Noun
Ward and another student won 1st place in a chili cooking contest.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
An active El Nino brought heavy rains to the event all week, including the closest-to-the-pin contest, where a strong storm chased spectators from that event.
—Visual Editors, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
Yoon has vowed to contest the charges, and his lawyer filed an injunction to challenge the validity of the detention warrant.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Trump has publicly questioned or aired inaccurate claims about the 2020 election results, leading many within his party to also contest the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for contest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contest
Noun
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Howe’s men will share the club record of nine consecutive victories across all competitions with Kevin Keegan’s vintage (May to September 1994) and Rafa Benitez’s Championship-winning side (September to November 2016).Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
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Making better use of A.I., Mr. Burns said, is crucial to the U.S. competition with China.Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For Medvedev, defeat against Tien marks his earliest exit from the Australian Open since 2018, having finished runner-up at three of the last four tournaments.George Ramsay, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
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The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, has been expanded to 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The ugly scene on a suburban street was a harbinger of skirmishes to come.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
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Houston teammates then ran in to defend their teammate, as well, leading to a skirmish that spilled out of bounds while Lawrence remained on the turf, still on his back, as medical personnel tended to him.Andrew Greif, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
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And the new rules will almost certainly be challenged in court.Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
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The puzzles are rarely straightforward, using homophones and wordplay, among other techniques, to keep players challenged.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese became one of the hottest in sports after their meeting in the 2023 NCAA women's basketball championship game, when Reese's LSU Tigers defeated Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes.Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
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During his visit, Boric reaffirmed Chile's commitment to the treaty, emphasizing that its provisions safeguard Antarctica from geopolitical rivalries.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Raymond James Stadium — home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers — can hold about 65,000 for most events, and capacity can be increased a bit if necessary.Tim Reynolds, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
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The president also had an event scheduled Tuesday in California to announce new national monuments.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Osbourne didn't share much about her treatment, but this update comes on the heels of her recent battle with a high fever over the holidays.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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Yarrow died at his home in New York City after a four-year battle with bladder cancer, his publicist Ken Sunshine told USA TODAY.Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Consumers today are increasingly focused on what's in their food, moving beyond taste and aesthetics to question the purpose and safety of each ingredient.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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For Wray, the path forward involves questioning traditional ideas of success and fulfillment—something Cohen fully endorses.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near contest
Cite this Entry
“Contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contest. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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