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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The White House contends that the new proposal would give banks more flexibility under the law and drive greater economic development. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 The same handful of franchises tend to contend for the Super Bowl every year. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Forecasting the Field The Olivias are contending for the top spots this year. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026 Some contend that Raman even reverses herself behind the scenes. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 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
  • At festivals, a party and a movie can compete for the same people.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Seven strangers from different countries and backgrounds are forced to compete in a deadly game, each facing a different mission to rescue a loved one.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of compete
Verb
  • But the Amazon and Blue Origin founder argues that some politicians are blaming the wrong culprit.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Canary Islands Film director Natacha Mora argues that the challenge is to balance international production growth with the capacity of the local industry and infrastructure.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • While officials insist the demolitions are a non-negotiable step toward revitalizing the corridor along Old National Highway, the families and owners left in the wake of the bulldozers say true recovery remains a distant promise.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There is a distinction, of course, between insisting on witnesses and staging a spectacle.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • This line of defense didn’t persuade Sweeney, who reasoned that adding athletes with expired eligibility would mean more, not less, market competition.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Yet rather than reasoning inductively to know God – through starting with an assessment of mortal man – a more effective approach is instead to reason deductively.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • The attorneys also hoped the litigation would lead to changes in workplace safety practices that German-Oden alleged remained dangerous.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • State prosecutor María Elena Andrade alleged that the attackers wanted to steal the tires from the foreigners’ pickup truck and that the victims resisted.
    — Fabiola Sánchez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Kelly Elizabeth Shea pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice in a plea deal Wednesday afternoon, and a judge sentenced her to a year of probation and community service.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The former owner of several unlicensed North Texas boarding homes pleaded guilty Monday to financially abusing and fatally neglecting elderly and disabled people in her care, according to court filings.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of plead
Verb
  • The Houthis claimed responsibility for those attacks and others.
    — SAMY MAGDY, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • One such diagram was shared on X by European Parliament member Tomáš Zdechovský, who claimed that online activity around the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party plummeted following the Russian data center attacks.
    — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of claim
Verb
  • Moriarty's office said rejection killings are a form of femicide in which women are targeted for asserting autonomy over their bodies.
    — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Expect Bass at tonight’s debate to try and assert her dominance early with equal part offense against Raman and defense of her record.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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