1
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
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Recent Examples of contended
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.
—
Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Kyle McNabb, however, contended in police documents that the internal temperature of such a vehicle could have climbed above 140 degrees.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.
—Jim Mustian, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Some contended that Malinin’s ability to ratchet up the difficulty might effectively reduce the competition to a math equation.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
County leaders have contended their actual costs are $180 per day.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
But multiple former offensive linemen contended Campbell’s Super Bowl struggles were not due to his arms.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit that prompted the Court’s ruling also contended the new standards wrongfully injected Christian teachings into public education and would violate students’ religious freedoms.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 5 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
Kyle McNabb, however, contended in police documents that the internal temperature of such a vehicle could have climbed above 140 degrees.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.
—Jim Mustian, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Some contended that Malinin’s ability to ratchet up the difficulty might effectively reduce the competition to a math equation.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
County leaders have contended their actual costs are $180 per day.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
But multiple former offensive linemen contended Campbell’s Super Bowl struggles were not due to his arms.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit that prompted the Court’s ruling also contended the new standards wrongfully injected Christian teachings into public education and would violate students’ religious freedoms.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended
Verb
-
Singapore has only competed in one previous Winter Games, the 2018 edition, where short-track speedskater Cheyenne Goh finished 28th in the women’s 1,500 meters.—
Lee Ying Shan,Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the strongest aspect of the project by far is the personal stories of the women who actually competed to become America’s next top model, including Sullivan.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some board members who voted no said the district had not sufficiently demonstrated that broad layoff notices were the most responsible or strategic option and argued that the analysis did not fully account for the operational and human consequences of issuing RIF notices at that scale.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The war enters its fifth year this month, and Kyiv is in a stronger position than at the start of 2025, a Carnegie Endowment expert argued in Foreign Affairs.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Since the start of the offseason back in October, the Mets have insisted the clubhouse wasn’t toxic last season, yet the narrative has followed the team into spring training.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
During negotiations, Russian officials have insisted Ukraine give up more territory in the east of the country to end the war.—
SAMYA KULLAB,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When her parents fought, Roberts Giuffre would huddle with her little brother, covering his ears.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Mayweather has fought in eight exhibition matches since, the last one coming against John Gotti III — the grandson of infamous mob boss John Gotti — in Mexico City in August 2024.—
Matt Schubert,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aside from contributing more tax money and stimulating the economy, O’Leary also reasoned that some billionaires are self-made and shouldn’t be punished for succeeding financially in their careers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Altman reasoned that these economic changes would be the result of AI allowing individuals to be vastly more productive.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His character was killed off early in Season 9 after a devastating Season 8 plane crash that also claimed the life of Leigh’s Lexie.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Survivors of the catastrophic avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada that claimed at least eight lives were rescued after using an emergency feature available on some iPhones.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Furnell’s team raced on the track at the Cortina Sliding Centre during the International Bobsleigh Federation’s World Cup in November and finished seventh out of 31 teams.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Their lungs raced while their quads screamed.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Daily News has a duty to verify facts asserted in op-eds.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
In a January 16 court filing supporting criminal charges against the two men, the DOJ asserted Aljorna was the one driving the vehicle.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contended. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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