" awardees "

1: as in honorees, inductees;

•  Synonyms : 

•  honorees,

•  inductees,

•  incumbents,

•  officeholders,

•  dropouts,

•  noncandidates

•  Antonyms : 

•  applicants,

•  appliers,

•  aspirants,

•  campaigners,

•  candidates,

•  contenders,

•  expectants,

•  hopefuls,

•  prospects,

•  seekers,

•  competitors,

•  contestants,

•  entrants,

•  entries,

•  favorites,

•  qualifiers,

•  dark horses,

•  spoilers,

•  stalking horses

1: to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement;

  * e.g., " ... we will award the top three contestants in the essay competition "

•  Synonyms : 

•  reward

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly;

  * e.g., " ... custody of the boy was awarded to the grandparents "

•  Synonyms : 

•  accord,

•  confer,

•  grant,

•  vest

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)