contend (with)

verb

Definition of contend (with)next
1
as in to address
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently a multitude of problems to contend with as soon as he returned to the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate medical missionaries who daily contend with disease and poverty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contend (with)
  1. address
  2. oppose
  3. manage
  4. fight
  5. handle
  6. combat
  7. manipulate
  8. take
Verb
  • Officers say the changes are aimed at addressing a recent rise in overnight disturbances while reassuring visitors and businesses that Old Sacramento remains a safe destination.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Charlotte’s communication director did not respond to the Observer on Thursday when asked whether the city plans to address public conversations surrounding Juliana’s death.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Definition of address
Verb
  • Some farmers cheered the change, including the industry’s principle advocacy organization, but at least some growers oppose it.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Polling by the independent Levada Center shows that support for the actions of the Russian armed forces sits above 65 percent nationwide, with less than 25 percent of the population opposed.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Syeda Sultana, chief operating officer at the digital marketing platform Vettted, spent a decade managing a global sustainability program.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Iran has insisted on a role in managing traffic through the strait.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • If your body has been asking you in a few ways to slow down (like feeling a cough coming on, or a tiredness that won’t shake off), stop fighting against what your body or heart is trying to tell you.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Only one helicopter was able to scoop water from the sea to fight the blaze.
    — Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of fight
Verb
  • Chancery courts in Mississippi handle legal issues including equity disputes, family law, estate matters and land record cases, and chancery judges — also called chancellors — typically hear trials without a jury present.
    — Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • His responsibilities included opening the facility, watching the children and handling most of the technology at the daycare, including the camera system.
    — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of handle
Verb
  • The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged Wednesday, resisting for now pressure from inside its own ranks to raise rates to combat persistently high inflation.
    — Andrew Ackerman, Washington Post, 29 July 2026
  • To combat this, leaders are urged to ask frontline staff about customer complaints and ways to ease their jobs, as they are best positioned to identify friction points and improve overall service.
    — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of combat
Verb
  • The lawsuit also alleges that Penske and Boehly manipulated and misused California’s nonprofit laws.
    — Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reported that AI training data and inputs are being manipulated and warned that attackers could influence model behavior by corrupting the information AI systems rely upon.
    — Syed Ali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Pimpton may have the inside track to start after taking most of the first team reps in spring camp.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • Kansas’ three Democratic governor hopefuls dug in on the issues and took shots at each other’s integrity and effectiveness in an hourlong Tuesday-evening television debate hosted by Topeka’s WIBW.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of take
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.

Browse Nearby Words

contends (with)
contend (with)
content
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Cite this Entry

“Contend (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contend%20%28with%29. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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