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

The former five-star recruit never seriously contended for a starting job there, what with Mario Cristobal bringing in Bo Nix before Thompson’s second season. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 24 July 2026

The Texas Comptroller should be someone who acts non-partisanly, Eckhardt contended. — Rachel Royster july 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026

Cruz contended the Senate bill can’t wait for the lame duck — or even worse, the next Congress. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 July 2026

Gunn contended, with call logs as evidence, that there was a nearly five-minute delay in the request for an ambulance to the officer, an allegation that was staunchly denied by the town of Chesterton. — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Lopez cited confidentiality concerns and contended that the DA office’s pursuit of Cybergenetics could be a tactic to glean insight from the defense. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

Some reports, meanwhile, have even contended that AI has had no substantive impact on jobs so far. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 July 2026

On the northern portion, the Assessor’s Office contended that a private lake was complete, and the Moyles had put in infrastructure improvements, such as a residential road, sidewalks and electrical boxes. — Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026

But Mayo contended that the more important development this quarter might be happening away from Wall Street. — Hugh Son, CNBC, 13 July 2026