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

Penn State regularly contended for New Year’s Six bowls but lost the close, important games so often that fans braced for heartbreak. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The museum has contended California’s new law is unconstitutional, which California is contesting. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

This competition is amplified by how little direct evidence is available, Xavier contended in a Nature comment. — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 15 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