underdogs
Expected to lose
Underdogs are competitors expected to lose—the weaker side in a contest or conflict.
The term carries sympathetic connotations; people tend to root for underdogs: Everyone loves an underdog story.
By extension, underdogs are people at a disadvantage in life, lacking power or resources compared to others around them.
Those not belonging
- longshotsUnlikely winners
- minnowsTiny freshwater fish
- sleepersUnactivated spies or surprise hits
- wildcardsUnpredictable factors or elements
nobodies · also-rans · unknowns · overlooked · disadvantaged · unfavored · dismissed · discounted
Those seeking to win
- challengersThose who compete against
- opponentsThose who compete against
- rivalsThose who compete
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
upstarts · insurgents · spoilers · giant-killers · dreamers · hopefuls · aspirants · scrappy
Capacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
fortitude · heart · pluck · resolve · courage · persistence · fight · scrappiness
Disturb, topple, or shock
- comebackRecovery after decline
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- stunnerPerson or thing overwhelming
miracle · shock · sensation · conquest · reversal · prevail · overcome · surpass
Actively cheering someone on
- solidarityUnity among allies
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- empathySharing another's emotions
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
relatability · affinity · cheering · rallying · backing · encouragement · fandom · allegiance
outsiders
Those not belonging
wildcards · nobodies · also-rans · unknowns · overlooked · disadvantaged · unfavored · dismissed · discounted · unheralded
contenders
Those seeking to win
- challengersThose who compete against
- opponentsThose who compete against
- rivalsThose who compete
competitors · upstarts · insurgents · spoilers · giant-killers · dreamers · hopefuls · aspirants · scrappy · plucky
resilience
Capacity to recover quickly
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
perseverance · fortitude · heart · pluck · resolve · courage · persistence · fight · scrappiness · defiance
upset
Disturb, topple, or shock
- comebackRecovery after decline
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- breakthroughSudden important advance
stunner · miracle · shock · sensation · conquest · reversal · prevail · overcome · surpass · defy
rooting
Actively cheering someone on
- solidarityUnity among allies
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- empathySharing another's emotions
identification · relatability · affinity · cheering · rallying · backing · encouragement · fandom · allegiance · devotion
- tournamentstournament, tournaments, bracket, brackets, tournament brackets
- underdogsCinderella, sleeper, dark horse, long shot, outsider
- sports bettingodds, bets, bookmaker, bet, sportsbook
- sports historyOlympic history, Olympic records, Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic training
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- reality TVSurvivor, contestant, The Bachelor, elimination, The Bachelorette
underdogsfavorites
Most preferred choices
frontrunners · top seeds · sure things · shoo-ins · safe bets
underdogstop dogs
Those with ultimate authority
alpha dogs · establishment · incumbents · elites · overlords
underdogsvillains
Evil characters in narratives
bullies · oppressors · Goliaths · dynasties · defending champions
- underdog storyTale of unlikely victor
- underdog storiesNarratives featuring unlikely victors
- underdog victoryWeaker side prevails unexpectedly
- underdog winUnlikely competitor's triumph