Synonyms of contended

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

• competed
• fought
• raced
• battled
• vied
• rivaled
• challenged
• played
• engaged
• faced off
• maneuvered
• went out
• worked
• jostled
• jockeyed
• tried out
• trained

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

• argued
• reasoned
• asserted
• pleaded
• maintained
• insisted
• convinced
• claimed
• explained
• mentioned
• justified
• suggested
• persuaded
• cited
• considered
• proposed
• adduced
• affirmed
• averred
• submitted
• defended
• urged
• offered
• discussed
• advocated
• advised
• recommended
• enforced
• championed
• countered
• gave
• espoused
• refuted
• rationalized
• counseled
• avowed
• debated
• advanced
• supported
• avouched
• rebutted
• disproved
• confuted

3

as in insisted

to state as a fact usually forcefully

contended that his opponent was wrong about practically everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insisted
• claimed
• alleged
• asserted
• maintained
• declared
• argued
• affirmed
• protested
• announced
• proclaimed
• averred
• professed
• purported
• avowed
• confirmed
• warranted
• reasoned
• defended
• put forth
• avouched
• justified
• rationalized
• vindicated
• upheld
• broadcast
• reaffirmed
• persevered
• supported
• reasserted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• denied
• abandoned
• rejected
• challenged
• repudiated
• disputed
• disclaimed
• questioned
• disavowed
• gainsaid
• negated
• disowned
• refuted
• countered
• negatived
• rebutted
• disproved
• contradicted
• confuted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contended

Prosecutors also contended Alvarez was still an active member of the 18th Street gang. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

This increase in work, the jury contended, was directly tied to Skains’ decision to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which determined Skains had the right to sue over the discrimination. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Specifically, the defense contended that Clancy heard a male voice that commanded her to kill her three children. — Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

In its counterarguments, Google contended would be unduly harsh to break up a complex network that distributes ads that online publishers depend upon to help finance digital services used by millions of consumers. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

But Defending Education contended that Lawson's votes during this past legislative session breached the guidelines that the Ethics Commission laid out in its June 2025 advisory opinion. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 2 Sep. 2026

Berry contended the artwork, crafted in a public art program during the New Deal by Tanya's maternal aunt, Ann Rice O'Hanlon, showed how Black people were central in building the region. — Courier Journal Staff, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Sep. 2026

George Cardenas — have also promised to bring back Chicago’s ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot detection system, which Johnson shut down amid grassroots pushback that contended the technology was ineffective and harmed Black and Latino communities. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Rosengart said Gomez should be dismissed from the lawsuit and contended the investors should not have sued her. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026