20 entries under candidate topic. ×

11
competitor(noun, animal, person, sport, opposition)
8
rival(noun, person, opposition, opponent, favorite)
5
contender(noun, animal, sport, opponent, competitor)
3
contester(competitor, participant, contender)
3
warrior(noun, champion, hero, competitor, winner)
2
antagonist(noun, opposition, rival, opponent, favorite)
2
combatant(competitor, participant, contender)
1
adversary(noun, opposition, rival, opponent, favorite)
1
aspirant(noun, opposition, rival, enemy, competitor)
1
battler(competitor, participant, contender)
1
dark horse(noun, expression, opposition, rival, favorite)
1
disputant(noun, opposition, rival, opponent, enemy)
1
entrant(noun, opposition, rival, opponent, peer)
1
favorite(rival, competitor, participant, contestant)
1
hopeful(competitor, participant, contender)
1
member(competitor, participant, contender)
1
participant(noun, competitor, contestant, contender)
1
player(noun, animal, sport, opposition, rival)
1
scrapper(competitor, participant, contender)
1
team member(expression, competitor, participant, contender)
11 years ago|6.5k views|share |citing 
APASmart Define. (2015). challenger thesaurus. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/challenger/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "challenger thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/challenger/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 23, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, challenger thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/challenger/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "challenger thesaurus" 10 April 2015. Web. 23 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/challenger/thesaurus/synonyms>