A pretendant is someone who asserts a claim to a particular title or position, especially in a competitive context. There are many synonyms for this word, ranging from formal and high-sounding terms to more casual and colloquial expressions. Some of the most common synonyms for pretendant include contender, aspirant, claimant, suitor, challenger, rival, and candidate. Other possible synonyms include appellant, bidder, opportunist, pretender, striver, and hopeful. Each of these words conveys a slightly different nuance or shade of meaning, and may be more appropriate in certain contexts or situations than in others.