contend

verb

kən-ˈtend How to pronounce contend (audio)
Definition of contendnext
1
as in to compete
to engage in a contest two traditional rivals contending for the championship

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2
as in to argue
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration contended that the senator's considerable experience made him the best candidate

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to insist
to state as a fact usually forcefully contended that his opponent was wrong about practically everything

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 contend While the competition is still several weeks out, some of the first marmots in the competition have already been introduced on the contending marmots Instagram. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 The union’s original grievance, the city contended, only challenged Biscari’s suspension pending resolution of his criminal case — not the underlying disciplinary action for the crash itself. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 Food industry officials contend that their internal reviews of additives are as rigorous as the FDA’s own processes. — Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 The Crowley campaign reacted to the Michigan election result by contending Hong's margin is not as wide as polling predicts, arguing her voter coalition is one that has never occurred in a statewide race in the Badger State. — Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contend
  1. compete
  2. argue
  3. insist
  4. reason
  5. allege
  6. plead
  7. claim
  8. assert
Verb
  • Ask whether ToolBench scores servers that compete with Arcade's own catalog on identical criteria.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Located in the heart of the Marais, a restaurant at the Centre Pompidou would have to be pretty special to compete against all the excellent neighboring options.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of compete
Verb
  • That connection is ultimately what put Tupac’s life in jeopardy, Davis argued in the book Compton Street Legend, which has become a key piece of evidence in the case against him.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • No two tales of what happened to Maelor after his knight protector was shot dead agree, but the young boy was also slain on the bridge, perhaps torn apart by the mob who assailed him, arguing over what to do with the young prince.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • Enterprise legal teams in 2026 routinely insist on data exit covering prompts, embeddings, and fine-tunes.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • Other planning engines run scenarios sequentially, in cycles measured in hours, which is why their AI can only report on what has already been computed rather than reasoning live, KetteQ said.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The use that matters is reasoning at the points where determinism breaks down.
    — Chris Wade, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • Investigators allege the scheme relied on a critical breakdown in internal controls.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Cassandra Barksdale and her attorneys filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Kaiser Permanente alleging the mix-up led to the surgery and months of physical and emotional pain.
    — Kim Chandler, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of allege
Verb
  • In a statement Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for more interceptors.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The indictment was unsealed Thursday afternoon, when LeVota pleaded not guilty.
    — Ilana Arougheti Updated August 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of plead
Verb
  • China claims the self-governing island as part of its territory, and has sent fighter jets and navy ships to the island on a daily basis as part of military exercises.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kyiv also claims Moscow is preparing an increase in recruitment for a new push on the front line that stretches 775 miles along eastern and southern Ukraine.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of claim
Verb
  • But at least one Lake Worth Beach city commissioner asserted involvement of local authorities in immigration enforcement is a bad idea.
    — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The defendant’s lawyers disputed that argument, asserting the evidence doesn’t prove Robinson’s motivation was connected to Kirk’s political or religious beliefs.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of assert

Phrases Containing contend

Browse Nearby Words

contemptuousness
contend
contended
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Cite this Entry

“Contend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contend. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of contend for Spanish Speakers

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