contended

verb

past tense of contend
1
as in competed
to engage in a contest two traditional rivals contending for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in argued
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 insisted
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 contended Musk contended that United Launch Alliance had a monopoly and said SpaceX should be eligible to bid. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026 Vogelsong-Parvin, in her closing argument, contended that Nakira did not act like a grieving parent. — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 Many leaders like Knapp contended that technology is useful for an initial snapshot of their guests, but could not replace human connection. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors have contended that Sanon was more than an unwitting political hopeful. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026 Belgal's attorneys contended ICE agents arrested Belgal without a warrant. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Sweeping as its powers were, Kanji contended, DHS could not override a sovereign government. — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 Some Democrats contended that the Justice Department greenlit the deal for political reasons, while warning that the Ellisons would steer CNN news coverage in a direction friendlier for the president. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 Blacknell contended that four different medical professionals treated Linton after the crash and none of them concluded the wreck was tied to a bipolar episode. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended
  1. competed
  2. argued
  3. insisted
  4. fought
  5. reasoned
  6. claimed
  7. raced
  8. asserted
Verb
  • This was the first time a Russian entry has competed in the Grand Prix series since the 2021-22 season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Anika Rashaun, the Reality TV star who appeared and competed on MTV’s The Real World and The Challenge and later became a professional matchmaker, advice columnist and dating coach, died October 1 of breast cancer.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of competed
Verb
  • Vukovic argued that the only way Russian influence could decline is via indirect means.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Rubio has argued that before holding new elections, Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • Until now, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has insisted the men were still alive and being held by gangs.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Putin has long insisted that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which Russia has tried — and failed — to fully capture over more than four years of war have always been Russian.
    — Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of insisted
Verb
  • Bass and Raman fought to halt that move, only to be rebuffed by Horvath and the county board.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • At the morning roundtable, Alan tells the players that Marathon, Agincourt, and Waterloo were all decisive battles fought early in the day.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of fought
Verb
  • The leader of the world’s largest chip company reasoned that his success wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunities America afforded him.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of reasoned
Verb
  • The man on the line claimed a Mexican drug cartel had kidnapped her 37-year-old daughter.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • While protests in France have claimed most international attention, large demonstrations are also rocking many European cities Saturday from Milan to Madrid, Lisbon and Tirana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of claimed
Verb
  • Sold as a two-year-old in 2006 for a record $16 million, the horse raced three times, never finishing better than third.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • An ominous darkness raced across the sky, while rusty-red hues illuminated the clouds, creating an almost apocalyptic scene.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of raced
Verb
  • Assistant District Attorney Jason Judd asserted at a pretrial conference that the expert would be material, or critical, at trial and that representatives of the state had met in person with the expert.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2026
  • JetBlue, which has tied a large portion of its financial future to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, left the ranks of the discounters some time ago, Harteveldt asserted.
    — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of asserted

Browse Nearby Words

contend
contended
contended (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Contended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contended. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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