challenger
Unseating the champion
A challenger is someone who competes for a position or title currently held by another—the opposite of a champion or incumbent.
In boxing and politics alike, the challenger seeks to unseat whoever holds power: The challenger landed a decisive blow in the third round.
More broadly, anyone who disputes or contests something: challengers to the traditional theory. (Capitalized Challenger refers to the space shuttle.)
One competing seriously
- opponentOne who contends against
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- rivalOne who competes against
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
frontrunner · matchup · bout · duel · face-off · showdown · tournament · championship
Arrogant recent success
- newcomerRecent arrival somewhere
- insurgentOne who revolts
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- outsiderOne excluded from group
disruptor · innovator · startup · underdog · establishment · incumbent · breakthrough · revolutionary
Match for supremacy
- contenderOne competing seriously
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- boutLimited stretch of something
- ringClosed curve shape
knockout · heavyweight · belt · rematch · prizefighter · corner · rounds · purse
Person seeking selection
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- incumbentCurrent position holder
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- primaryChief in importance
election · nominee · frontrunner · debate · platform · endorsement · poll · voter
contender
One competing seriously
underdog · frontrunner · matchup · bout · duel · face-off · showdown · tournament · championship · playoffs
upstart
Arrogant recent success
outsider · disruptor · innovator · startup · underdog · establishment · incumbent · breakthrough · revolutionary · trailblazer
title fight
Match for supremacy
ring · knockout · heavyweight · belt · rematch · prizefighter · corner · rounds · purse · rankings
candidate
Person seeking selection
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- incumbentCurrent position holder
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
primary · election · nominee · frontrunner · debate · platform · endorsement · poll · voter · constituency
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- rivalriesenemy, nemesis, derby, opponent, competitor
- rivalsrival, opponent, adversary, competitor, foe
- Chess Playersgrandmaster, chess master, chess champion, world champion, master
- joustingjoust, jousting, lance, tilt, tilting
- arguersarguer, debater, disputant, disputer, quarreler
challengerchampion
Top competitor, or advocate
titleholder · incumbent · defender · defending champion · reigning champion
- ice bucket challengeFilmed self-soaking for awareness
- rise to the challengeMeet a difficult demand
- environmental challengesProblems harming natural systems
- late challenge
- mental challengesProblems requiring cognitive effort
- physically challengedHaving bodily impairments
challenge, challenging, challenged, challenges, unchallenged, challengers, challengeable, counterchallenge