contend

con·tend

verb \kən-ˈtend\

Definition of CONTEND

intransitive verb

1

: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties : struggle

2

: to strive in debate : argue

transitive verb

1

: maintain, assert <contended that he was right>

2

: to struggle for : contest

Examples of CONTEND

1. These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.
2. The team is expected to contend for the championship this year.

Origin of CONTEND

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- + tendere to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONTEND

Synonyms: battle, compete, face off, fight, race, rival, vie

Antonyms: deny, gainsay

Related Words: challenge, engage, play; jockey, jostle, maneuver; go out, try out; train, work

Near Antonyms: abandon; disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate; challenge, dispute, question; confute, disprove, rebut, refute; contradict, counter

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with CONTEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end