as in applicants
one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award
each candidate for town council was allowed to speak at the candidates' forum
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Recent Examples of candidates
The two highest-polling candidates — Hilton and Steyer — are in the mid-teens, with most of the other candidates close behind.
—
Anne Bryson, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Most of the candidates at the event said the insider move inspired them to enter the race as independents, teeing up a rare potential competitive general election for the Latino-majority district that stretches from Pilsen to Oak Brook and from Franklin Park to Burbank.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The race illustrated the widening gap between the Democratic establishment's preferred candidates and the party's next generation.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
For more on the candidates and this year’s election, check out the AJC’s 2026 AJC Voter Guide.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The board majority consists of candidates elected with the endorsement of the powerful teachers union — United Teachers Los Angeles.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Only 71 players filed as early-entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
In a 2013 special election, Sanford won back his old congressional seat, beating 15 other candidates in a primary and runoff.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Anne Bryson, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
Most of the candidates at the event said the insider move inspired them to enter the race as independents, teeing up a rare potential competitive general election for the Latino-majority district that stretches from Pilsen to Oak Brook and from Franklin Park to Burbank.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The race illustrated the widening gap between the Democratic establishment's preferred candidates and the party's next generation.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
For more on the candidates and this year’s election, check out the AJC’s 2026 AJC Voter Guide.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The board majority consists of candidates elected with the endorsement of the powerful teachers union — United Teachers Los Angeles.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Only 71 players filed as early-entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
In a 2013 special election, Sanford won back his old congressional seat, beating 15 other candidates in a primary and runoff.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for candidates
Noun
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Leasing staff will begin reaching out to applicants at the top of a randomized ranking list in June and as late as August, according to the city’s website.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
On the residency front, the country is also expected to receive 80,000 residency applications in 2026—up from 28,000 in 2024—with the majority of applicants coming from Brazil, according to a news release.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The bay colt won the Santa Anita Derby at Southern California's Santa Anita Park last month ahead of fellow Derby contenders Potente and Intrepido, who came in second and fourth, respectively.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
And when two legitimate Stanley Cup contenders meet, regardless of round, desperation tends to win out.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The candidates, one running for the Senate in Virginia and two congressional hopefuls from Texas and Minnesota, were fined and banned from Kalshi for five years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Candidates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/candidates. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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