challengernoun [ C ]
uk/ˈtʃæl.ɪn.dʒər/us/ˈtʃæl.ɪn.dʒɚ/someone who tries to win a competition, fight, or sports event from someone who has previously won it
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Competitors & participants in sports & games
- back four
- benchwarmer
- boot boy
- center forward
- center half
- eleven
- fielder
- finisher
- gymnast
- outfield player
- outside forward
- phoenix club
- playmaker
- poacher
- runner
- scratch
- sprint
- squad
- underdog
- winger
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Examples from literature
- In pity of the challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he will not be entreated.
- So he leaped from his chariot, in his clanging armor, and advanced to meet the challenger.
- The tournament being over, the Norman offered himself as general challenger at wrestling.
- The two challengers having found him alone would not take any advantage of him, but agreed to fight him one after the other, like brave and generous knights.
- You are bigger than I, and it would hardly be fair, replied Tom, surveying the bulky form of his challenger.