as in finalist
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Recent Examples of semifinalist
The latter is especially notable because the WEC’s pastry chef, Yohann Le Bescond, was a semifinalist in the 2025 James Beard Awards.
—
Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Fagnano and Pavia were two of the most productive quarterbacks in the country last season, with the 25-year-old Fagnano racking up the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (28 to 1) and being named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top QB.
—Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Makfam Husband-and-wife team Kenneth Wan (a James Beard Award semifinalist) and Doris Yuen are the brains behind Makfam.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Chef Sam Diminich, a James Beard Award semifinalist, opened Grey’s Diner & Community Kitchen on April 27 in the space that once housed Mattie’s Diner.
—Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
McCoy left Oregon State after his freshman season and was a plug-and-play starter at Tennessee, blossoming into a lockdown cornerback specializing in man coverage who earned All-American honors and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award as a sophomore in 2024.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Nashville, a Champions Cup semifinalist, and Inter Miami, which lost to LAFC, 3-0, on opening day, represent the East.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Eventually, their only child would return to the family business, becoming a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
After one season each at Auburn and Colorado, the former four-star recruit earned All-SEC honors and Thorpe Award semifinalist recognition.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Fagnano and Pavia were two of the most productive quarterbacks in the country last season, with the 25-year-old Fagnano racking up the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (28 to 1) and being named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top QB.
—Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Makfam Husband-and-wife team Kenneth Wan (a James Beard Award semifinalist) and Doris Yuen are the brains behind Makfam.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2026
Chef Sam Diminich, a James Beard Award semifinalist, opened Grey’s Diner & Community Kitchen on April 27 in the space that once housed Mattie’s Diner.
—Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
McCoy left Oregon State after his freshman season and was a plug-and-play starter at Tennessee, blossoming into a lockdown cornerback specializing in man coverage who earned All-American honors and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award as a sophomore in 2024.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Nashville, a Champions Cup semifinalist, and Inter Miami, which lost to LAFC, 3-0, on opening day, represent the East.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Eventually, their only child would return to the family business, becoming a James Beard Awards semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
After one season each at Auburn and Colorado, the former four-star recruit earned All-SEC honors and Thorpe Award semifinalist recognition.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for semifinalist
finalist
Noun
-
Pavia was the first Heisman Trophy finalist in more than 10 years to go unselected in the NFLNFL Draft.—
Ryan Gaydos OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Two things have changed to give me even more confidence in the position after Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first year as the starter.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Semifinalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/semifinalist. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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