challengers
Those disputing supremacy
Challengers are people or things that compete against established holders of titles, positions, or claims.
In sports, a challenger faces the reigning champion: The challenger knocked out the defending titleholder in the third round.
In politics, challengers run against incumbents.
The word implies an underdog status—someone seeking to take what another currently holds.
Those who compete
- contendersThose seeking to win
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
matchup · tournament · contest · duel · showdown · face-off · clash · bracket
Creators of novel things
- upstartsPresumptuous newly successful people
- disruptorsThose who destabilize systems
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- insurgentsThose fighting established authority
game-changers · trailblazers · mavericks · startups · outsiders · shake-up · market entry · incumbents
Unlikely winner, previously unknown
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unfavoredNot given preference
- scrappyAggressively spirited despite odds
plucky · gritty · resilient · tenacious · determined · defiant · comeback · upset
Strongly desiring achievement
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
- hungryWanting to eat
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- risingAct of ascending
ascendant · up-and-coming · striving · pursuit · next generation · heir apparent · succession · breakthrough
rivals
Those who compete
- contendersThose seeking to win
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
competitors · matchup · tournament · contest · duel · showdown · face-off · clash · bracket · playoffs
innovators
Creators of novel things
- upstartsPresumptuous newly successful people
- disruptorsThose who destabilize systems
- newcomersThose recently arrived
insurgents · game-changers · trailblazers · mavericks · startups · outsiders · shake-up · market entry · incumbents · establishment
darkhorse
Unlikely winner, previously unknown
- longshotUnlikely to succeed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- unfavoredNot given preference
scrappy · plucky · gritty · resilient · tenacious · determined · defiant · comeback · upset · giant-killer
ambitious
Strongly desiring achievement
rising · ascendant · up-and-coming · striving · pursuit · next generation · heir apparent · succession · breakthrough · proving ground
- democracyvote, voting, election, elections, ballot
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, candidates, polls
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- conventionsconvention, conventions, delegates, conference, attendee
- things to fight offillness, infection, cold, flu, disease
- Medieval Joustingjousting, knights, armor, lances, horses
challengerschampions
Contest winners, top performers
titleholders · incumbents · defending champions · frontrunners · favorites
challengersincumbents
Current holders of positions
establishment · rulers · authorities · insiders · old guard
challengerssupporters
People who back something
defenders · accepters · endorsers · backers · proponents
- 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, challenger, challenged, challenges, unchallenged, challengeable, counterchallenge