20 entries under candidate topic. ×

3
warrior(competitor, participant, contender)
2
aspirant(noun, opposition, job, rival, enemy)
2
entrant(noun, opposition, job, rival, enemy)
2
hopeful(job, competitor, participant, runner)
1
adversary(noun, match, opposition, rival, favorite)
1
antagonist(noun, opposition, rival, favorite, enemy)
1
battler(competitor, participant, contender)
1
challenger(noun, opposition, rival, favorite, enemy)
1
combatant(competitor, participant, contender)
1
competitor(noun, opposition, job, rival, enemy)
1
contender(job, competitor, participant, runner, contestant)
1
contester(competitor, participant, contender)
1
disputant(noun, opposition, rival, enemy, competitor)
1
favorite(rival, competitor, participant, contestant)
1
member(competitor, participant, contender)
1
player(noun, match, opposition, rival, enemy)
1
rival(noun, match, opposition, favorite, enemy)
1
scrapper(competitor, participant, contender)
1
team member(expression, competitor, participant, contender)
0
participant(competitor, contestant, contender)
10 years ago|5.7k views|share |citing 
APASmart Define. (2016). dark horse thesaurus. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/dark_horse/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "dark horse thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/dark_horse/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 27, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, dark horse thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 27 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/dark_horse/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "dark horse thesaurus" 1 April 2016. Web. 27 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/dark_horse/thesaurus/synonyms>