1
as in competing
to engage in a contest
two traditional rivals contending for the championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in arguing
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 alleging
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 contending
Yet Harris discovered that being a good soldier doesn’t necessarily help when the vice president is contending for the highest elective office in the land.
—
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As the New York Knicks gear up for what could be a title-contending season in 2025-26, the head coach that led them to their most success this century was spotted several time zones away.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Manning, at least, is still helming a playoff-contending team.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 1 Oct. 2025
Winnipeg should remain a very solid playoff bet for that reason, with a real chance of contending.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
When did the Brewers look like a real playoff contending team?
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
James Jones directed the Oscar-contending film that’s won awards at festivals from the Hague to Tribeca.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
But instead of contending for the Supporters Shield (best record in MLS), Minnesota will need to start looking behind them in the standings.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
In turn, Sagoo filed a motion to dismiss, contending that the IRS’ administrative assessments violated the Seventh Amendment.
—Matthew L. Roberts, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
As the New York Knicks gear up for what could be a title-contending season in 2025-26, the head coach that led them to their most success this century was spotted several time zones away.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Manning, at least, is still helming a playoff-contending team.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 1 Oct. 2025
Winnipeg should remain a very solid playoff bet for that reason, with a real chance of contending.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
When did the Brewers look like a real playoff contending team?
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
James Jones directed the Oscar-contending film that’s won awards at festivals from the Hague to Tribeca.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
But instead of contending for the Supporters Shield (best record in MLS), Minnesota will need to start looking behind them in the standings.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
In turn, Sagoo filed a motion to dismiss, contending that the IRS’ administrative assessments violated the Seventh Amendment.
—Matthew L. Roberts, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
-
Young professionals may seek a financial advisor to help juggle competing financial priorities while building their career.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
How Vancouver decides to move forward, given these delicate, competing priorities, will shape this upcoming season.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For decades, DeLodder said, hospitals have quelled the establishment of freestanding birthing centers by arguing against their necessity.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The budget director wrote the project’s chapter on the Executive Office of the President, arguing that the bureaucracy is riddled with inefficiencies and corruption.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The litigation in that case resolved hundreds of lawsuits alleging the company ignored red flags while filling prescriptions for opioid pain medication.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
India doesn’t have explicitly uniform intellectual property rights like the US, but courts have routinely sided with stars alleging such violations.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Supreme Court disagreed, reasoning the membership relationship between UNLV and the NCAA didn’t warrant a finding of state action by the NCAA.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Michell was reasoning from Newton’s laws.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Scammers will call or text consumers claiming to be a legitimate institution, such as a bank or a government institution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Treat any message claiming your Meta account or other services will be disabled within days with caution.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Union attorneys argue the OMB overstepped its legal authority, asserting that federal law does not permit reductions in force during a lapse in appropriations.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In asserting a public interest in making the airwaves safe for the First Amendment, the words of a Mae West or a Jimmy Kimmel may be the best place to draw a line in the ether.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Official sources denied rumors of a collapse in the country’s healthcare system due to the outbreak, insisting that hospitals had the capacity to admit patients.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Farley’s personal approach—insisting on a welding summer job for his own son—mirrors Ford’s institutional initiatives.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Robinson was sentenced in July to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to a count of possession of child pornography, prosecutors said.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
-
By the time the group made the turn, Thomas was essentially acting as a one-man volume knob, pleading for the crowd to quiet down with McIlroy or Lowry ready to putt, then pointing to his ear for points delivered by himself or Young.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share