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
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
Estancia, Los Amigos and University contended for postseason berths.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The company’s legal defense contended that the claims in the lawsuit lack merit and pledged to vigorously defend against them in court.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Habermas and other opponents contended that the conservative historians were trying to lessen the magnitude of Nazi crimes through such comparisons.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Cameron Young, who contended at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, had a 67 and was three shots behind.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
The prosecution contended that the daughter-in-law knowingly took specific steps leading up to Fraser’s disappearance, including arranging for his girlfriend to be at a spa on the day of the disappearance and disabling mobile phone service in the couple’s home.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Estancia, Los Amigos and University contended for postseason berths.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The company’s legal defense contended that the claims in the lawsuit lack merit and pledged to vigorously defend against them in court.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Habermas and other opponents contended that the conservative historians were trying to lessen the magnitude of Nazi crimes through such comparisons.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Cameron Young, who contended at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, had a 67 and was three shots behind.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
The prosecution contended that the daughter-in-law knowingly took specific steps leading up to Fraser’s disappearance, including arranging for his girlfriend to be at a spa on the day of the disappearance and disabling mobile phone service in the couple’s home.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Gillett contended the utilities were gouging the public.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended
Verb
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Latson competed in her first Sweet 16, having played her previous three collegiate seasons at Florida State before her transfer to South Carolina.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Wilson competed at the 2024 Olympic Games as a 16-year-old running a leg in the qualifying for the 4x400 relay and earning a gold medal when the team won in the finals.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And former President John Quincy Adams, who was then serving in the House, argued the Amistad case before the high court in 1841.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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City managers from both cities argued that the regulations were implemented without adequate consideration of the financial consequences for local governments.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Etebari’s grandfather would have insisted on putting a cloth on the floor and having everyone sit cross-legged to eat, as is the custom in Iran.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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When the law that governs CARE Court was being written, many advocacy groups insisted that coercion is ineffective and that modern mental health care favors treating people in the least restrictive settings possible.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her sister, Emma, fought tirelessly for her release in September 2025, lobbying governments and taking bold actions to raise awareness.—
Jennifer Earl,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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But despite the vaccines’ success, critics have fought against the COVID shots’ rollout and mRNA vaccine technology more broadly.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The judge reasoned in her January 2024 ruling that the company’s directors were too beholden to Musk.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
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On that front, the NCAA came up short, Pratt reasoned.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bianco claimed his agency was investigating a complaint from a local group alleging a possible discrepancy in which about 45,800 more votes were reported to California's Secretary of State.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The letter claimed Iran was acting within the principles of international law.—
David McHugh,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Alabama raced out to a 24-point halftime lead en route to a 90-65 win over Texas Tech in the second round.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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China's cyberspace regulator has raced to regulate the rapidly growing field in recent years, but struggled to stay ahead of a technology that is advancing faster than the rules designed to govern it.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran has frequently asserted it is focused on hitting US military bases in the Gulf – not the countries themselves.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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The visitors survived an early scare when Zion Suzuki pushed a Scott McTominay effort onto the post, but Japan gradually asserted control.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contended. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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