CONTENDED Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

contended

verb

Definition of contended next

past tense of contend

as in competed

to engage in a contest two traditional rivals contending for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contended Beatty has not disputed that renovations are needed, but contended that it was rushed and did not go through proper review. —

Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contended

Verb

Matt Riddle, Killer Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux, Shotzi Blackheart, Donovan Dijak, Bishop Dyer, Austin Aries, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Priscilla Kelly and several others have all competed in WWE at one point or another.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
All eight players competed in the first round, with the top four scores advancing to the semifinals and the two highest semifinal scores advancing to the final round.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026