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
Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates have long contended that ibogaine, which is made from a shrub native to West Africa, has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction.
—
Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates have long contended that ibogaine, which is made from a shrub native to West Africa, has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors contended that Jay recruited Jordan and Washington to sell coke for him in Baltimore, but the deal went sour when the rapper’s drug connection had bad blood with Washington and threatened to kill him.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
While the city contracts with about 20 non-governmental organizations for homeless services and even more subcontractors, Mitchell contended the city applies few or no performance metrics to them.
—Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Some speakers during a PUC hearing contended that Xcel chooses to cut power during high winds to avoid getting sued.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Beatty has not disputed that renovations are needed, but contended that it was rushed and did not go through proper review.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
One of Aguirre’s trial attorneys, Michael Sklar, contended that Fernandez was the one who hit the boy with a belt, shot him with a BB gun and was responsible for much of the abuse prior to his death.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if Maduro got public defenders, the complex case would sap legal resources meant for people who can't afford their own attorneys.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates have long contended that ibogaine, which is made from a shrub native to West Africa, has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors contended that Jay recruited Jordan and Washington to sell coke for him in Baltimore, but the deal went sour when the rapper’s drug connection had bad blood with Washington and threatened to kill him.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
While the city contracts with about 20 non-governmental organizations for homeless services and even more subcontractors, Mitchell contended the city applies few or no performance metrics to them.
—Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Some speakers during a PUC hearing contended that Xcel chooses to cut power during high winds to avoid getting sued.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Beatty has not disputed that renovations are needed, but contended that it was rushed and did not go through proper review.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
One of Aguirre’s trial attorneys, Michael Sklar, contended that Fernandez was the one who hit the boy with a belt, shot him with a BB gun and was responsible for much of the abuse prior to his death.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Maduro lawyer Barry Pollack contended that if Maduro got public defenders, the complex case would sap legal resources meant for people who can't afford their own attorneys.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended
Verb
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Princess Anne inherited her mother's love of horses and even competed as an equestrian in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
In a commercial first, Lokedi completed the race in a pair of signature shoes, the Sharon Lokedi Velociti Elite 3, the first time an Under Armour athlete has competed a major marathon in a signature shoe.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But as anyone who has argued over a set of new windows can attest, condo boards are a better example.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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In 1978, during the Carter administration, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel argued that the president has the legal authority to pick an existing member of the Fed's board as acting chair if the role becomes vacant.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, Fiapoto pleaded not guilty and insisted on a fast preliminary hearing, according to court records.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Amit Sofer, head of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council, insisted that Israel’s military should be allowed to achieve its goal of disarming Hezbollah.—
CNN staff,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The war with Iran is now the second major conflict to demonstrate that the age of mass drone warfare has fully arrived — and with it, a fundamental shift in how conflicts are fought.—
Alexander Benard,
Washington Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Over 40 Illinois municipalities have since adopted these harmful policies, while many simultaneously fought to prevent social service providers from helping people survive and transition out of homelessness.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those are the people, Hall reasoned, who have the expendable income for the devices, which range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
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The researchers reasoned that, whatever else was going on to provide molten material, the paths to the surface were likely to be enabled by stresses in the crust.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In that litigation, which has to do with the withholding of records in the case, a deputy city attorney and a San Diego police captain claimed on March 16 that the incident was still under review by the district attorney’s office for potential prosecution of the involved officers.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Andrews claimed that the financier was abusive.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their fans will have cast a nervous glance at the goal difference column after City raced into the lead at Turf Moor through Erling Haaland after five minutes.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Marlins raced out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to Xavier Edwards’ RBI double and Liam Hicks’ two-run homer, an impressive drive that cut through a cold San Francisco night.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a Wall Street Journal essay, Barnett asserted that the Supreme Court, for over a century in a host of decisions addressing the issue, misread the 14th Amendment.—
Ediberto Roman,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Since then, Human Rights Watch asserted, the authorities have demolished hundreds of church buildings or the crosses atop them, prevented adherents from gathering in unofficial churches, restricted access to the Bible, and confiscated religious materials not authorized by the government.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contended. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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