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
In granting that request, the court rejected a motion filed by Ohio State, which contended that the plaintiffs were only trying to draw Wexner into their case based on unrelated controversies.
—
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Following that hearing, Hill contended that criminal acts had occurred during the election, and prosecutors should act.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Others, have contended Good was not a threat, with state and city officials blaming the surge of federal agents in the area for the unrest.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
In the Lambden case, a homeowner contended that the board pursued the wrong response to termite problems and sued the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Dabrowski contended that Bailey’s 13 percentage point loss to Pritzker four years ago was in part due to his failure to connect with Cook County voters.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies contended for Bichette’s services, meeting with him this week, with sources briefed on the videoconference saying both parties emerged with optimism.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In the Lambden case, a homeowner contended the board pursued the wrong response to termite problems and sued the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Polis, who has contended the subpoena was related to potential child abuse and exploitation, is still trying to find a way to turn over some records.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Following that hearing, Hill contended that criminal acts had occurred during the election, and prosecutors should act.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Others, have contended Good was not a threat, with state and city officials blaming the surge of federal agents in the area for the unrest.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
In the Lambden case, a homeowner contended that the board pursued the wrong response to termite problems and sued the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Dabrowski contended that Bailey’s 13 percentage point loss to Pritzker four years ago was in part due to his failure to connect with Cook County voters.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies contended for Bichette’s services, meeting with him this week, with sources briefed on the videoconference saying both parties emerged with optimism.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In the Lambden case, a homeowner contended the board pursued the wrong response to termite problems and sued the HOA.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Polis, who has contended the subpoena was related to potential child abuse and exploitation, is still trying to find a way to turn over some records.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended
Verb
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Sheppard also competed in the event as a rookie last season.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In 2002, Wedding competed for his home country in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in a men’s snowboarding event, parallel giant slalom.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Another lawsuit brought by detainees in federal court in Fort Myers argued that immigration was a federal issue, and Florida agencies and private contractors hired by the state had no authority to operate the facility under federal law.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
So, Hippocrates argued, the illness of epilepsy must be caused, like any other illness, by imbalance, not demons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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From there, the same White House that for months had insisted Venezuela was a dangerous country run by drug cartels dispatched him on yet another of last year’s 76 deportation flights back to South America.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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Instead, Newsom insisted that free tuition become part of a larger higher-education-reform plan with many interlocking pieces—a program that is hard to explain in fifteen seconds on TV.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then, amid the pandemic, my research on cultural destruction was suddenly everywhere as Azerbaijan launched a war in our ancestral homeland—fought in the shadow of erasures like Djulfa.—
Simon Maghakyan,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
As the fish fruitlessly fought the current, neurons that release norepinephrine fired; in response, calcium built up in astrocytes.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In her ruling, Talwani said the decision to end the program was not well reasoned to consider concerns of the people affected.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Beauty, Paltrow reasoned, is one of the most emotionally connective categories with both new and existing customers.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The5Krunner has also claimed wearables commentator DC Rainmaker may be currently testing the device.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The authors never claimed to have demonstrated that such reading generates feelings of empathy, though others—including the New York Times—have sometimes confused those high scores as evidence of empathy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thursday evening, the Senate agreed to fund DHS for just two weeks as lawmakers raced to pass a large spending package to avoid a partial shutdown.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Blue Devils raced to a 15-5 lead while the Canes missed eight of their first nine shots.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moscow has rebuilt Cold War-era bases, expanded Arctic military infrastructure, deployed advanced missile systems, and asserted control over polar shipping routes.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Their views differ starkly from the position asserted by top executives of Google’s leading AI rivals, OpenAI and Anthropic, who assert that their AI models are about to rival human intelligence.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contended. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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