also-ran
Out of money
An also-ran is a contestant who finishes out of the top places in a race or competition—literally, one who also ran but didn't win.
The term extends to anyone or anything that fails to achieve distinction: The company was an also-ran in the smartphone market.
It carries connotations of mediocrity or forgettable performance.
Competition's silver finisher
- loserDefeated competitor
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- beatenHaving lost a contest
- unsuccessfulNot achieving desired outcome
outclassed · outplayed · outmatched · bested · surpassed · tail-ender · laggard · straggler
Unlikely to succeed
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- underratedValued below true worth
unheralded · unfancied · unknown · minnow · little guy · Cinderella story · sleeper · upstart
Competition of speed
- contestOrganized competitive event
- fieldArea of specialty
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- primaryChief in importance
election · tournament · championship · standings · bracket · qualifier · ballot · slate
Alternative if primary fails
- alternativeAnother available choice
- plan BAlternative when primary fails
- reserveSupply kept back
- substituteReplacement for another
spare · afterthought · consolation prize · last resort · second-string · bench-warmer
Unlikely to be recalled
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- undistinguishedLacking notable qualities
- middlingOf moderate quality
- averageArithmetic mean or ordinary
ordinary · unexceptional · nondescript · lackluster · has-been · never-was · anonymous · faceless
runner-up
Competition's silver finisher
unsuccessful · outclassed · outplayed · outmatched · bested · surpassed · tail-ender · laggard · straggler · bridesmaid
long shot
Unlikely to succeed
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
underrated · unheralded · unfancied · unknown · minnow · little guy · Cinderella story · sleeper · upstart · no-hoper
race
Competition of speed
primary · election · tournament · championship · standings · bracket · qualifier · ballot · slate · ticket
fallback
Alternative if primary fails
- alternativeAnother available choice
- plan BAlternative when primary fails
- reserveSupply kept back
substitute · spare · afterthought · consolation prize · last resort · second-string · bench-warmer
forgettable
Unlikely to be recalled
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- undistinguishedLacking notable qualities
- middlingOf moderate quality
average · ordinary · unexceptional · nondescript · lackluster · has-been · never-was · anonymous · faceless · interchangeable
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
- Non-winnersloser, runner-up, beaten, defeated, second place
- secondarysecondary, second fiddle, second string, second choice, second place
- underdogsunderdog, underdogs, Cinderella, sleeper, dark horse