20 entries under candidate topic. ×

17
competitor(noun, person, opposition, job, application)
12
contender(noun, person, opposition, job, opponent)
12
rival(noun, person, opposition, opponent, enemy)
11
adversary(noun, person, opposition, rival, opponent)
9
antagonist(noun, person, opposition, rival, opponent)
8
player(noun, person, opposition, application, rival)
7
participant(noun, person, application, submission, competitor)
5
combatant(noun, person, opposition, opponent, competitor)
4
aspirant(noun, person, opposition, job, rival)
3
nominee
2
dark horse(noun, expression, opposition, job, rival)
1
battler(competitor, participant, contender)
1
challenger(noun, opposition, rival, opponent, peer)
1
contester(competitor, participant, contender)
1
disputant(noun, opposition, rival, enemy, competitor)
1
favorite(competitor, participant, contestant, contender)
1
hopeful(job, competitor, participant, runner)
1
member(competitor, participant, contender)
1
scrapper(competitor, participant, contender)
1
team member(expression, competitor, participant, contender)
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APASmart Define. (2015). entrant thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/entrant/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "entrant thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/entrant/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, entrant thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/entrant/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "entrant thesaurus" 10 April 2015. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/entrant/thesaurus/synonyms>