also-ran

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of also-ran If Seattle finally reaches the World Series this season, maybe there’s hope for such perennial also-rans as the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels, who lost a club-record 99 times last summer under first-year manager Ron Washington. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 That's because the choicest ones get snatched up early, leaving only the straggly also-rans. Felix Salmon, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024 South Carolina was 3-3 to start the season and looked to be headed for an also-ran season in the SEC despite a pair of close losses. Dan Santaromita, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Instead of an also-ran, Vice President Walter Mondale was a real partner to Carter with a West Wing office, unprecedented access to meetings and private lunches with the president. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Recent Examples of Synonyms for also-ran
Noun
  • This is one resilient bear, even in the face of a villainous Hugh Grant, who plays a narcissistic, has-been actor.
    Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
  • This isn’t a turn of events that Macchio, 63, possibly could have expected just a few years ago, when most of Hollywood had dismissed him as an Eighties has-been.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Only entrants aged 21 or older are allowed to participate in the sweepstakes, though they are allowed to bring children with them to the sleepover.
    Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Big Ten and SEC each averaged 4.2 entrants per season and the ACC and Big 12 averaged 2.1.
    Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • As their ranks diminish, park rangers say fewer employees could mean long entry lines, dirty bathrooms and potentially unsafe conditions for hikers and campers during the busy tourist season.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Tennis legend Venus Williams will play at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells next month, officials announced, thanks to a wild-card entry.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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