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 administration has contended the changes are relatively minor and legal. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 3 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

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

George Cardenas — have also promised to bring back Chicago’s ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot detection system, which Johnson shut down amid grassroots pushback that contended the technology was ineffective and harmed Black and Latino communities. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Rosengart said Gomez should be dismissed from the lawsuit and contended the investors should not have sued her. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

That wouldn’t have left time for the psychotic, hallucinatory state to begin and for the voices in Clancy’s head to kick in and tell her to kill the children and carry out the suicide attempt, as the defense team has contended, Sprague said. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

The guild contended that Attiah’s firing was pretextual, and that she was being penalized for speech that fell within her job description. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026

Espinosa has contended that the ethics commission, not the city, is the proper venue for the investigation. — Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026