CONTENDING Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

contending

verb

present participle of contend

as in competing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 In the eyes of Lakers coach JJ Redick, each game the Lakers (5-2) play is a step in a process aimed at becoming a championship-contending team. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 If the Big Ten was resting their hopes on Ohio State being able to put together an offense capable of contending for a national championship, then Saturday night's 30-18 loss to USC was a reality check on the current situation. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026 Trump has used the campaign trail to defend the Iran war, contending Tehran’s regime cannot have a nuclear weapon. — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 The students challenge that interpretation, contending that the university has not established that their individual statements constituted legally unprotected threats or caused the level of disruption required to justify punishment. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Which of the new top five hits is most likely to keep contending into the new year? — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026 But one thing is certain that is not going to be a walkover for any of the contending parties at all in this election. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 He’s thrived under pressure, delivering in tight spots while proving conducive to winning on multiple contending clubs. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 The Netflix film, which premiered at New York Film Festival earlier this month, is one of 10 Oscar-contending feature documentaries included in Doc Stories’ lineup. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending

Verb

Working with landowners like the Russell Farm who want to see their property remain as working farms is essential for the Farms Fund success competing on the open market for properties, Belk said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2026
In 1999, pianists Glen Inanga and Jennifer Micallef traveled the world, competing internationally.

— Megan Fitzgerald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of competing

Verb

Headwaters responded by sending a letter to city council members, arguing that such a moratorium could violate its due process rights.

— Naomi Nix, Time, 29 Oct. 2026
Nab is among the data centers’ proponents, arguing that data is the industry of the future.

— Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Orange County prosecutors also charged Nguyen with animal cruelty and animal abuse by a caretaker, both felonies, and a sentencing enhancement alleging the personal use of a weapon.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
Since its creation in 2023, Villa Vie has been plagued by several lawsuits alleging breaches of contract, sudden itinerary changes and delays, and failure to pay employees earned overtime.

— Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of alleging

Verb

New York state sued Kalshi and Polymarket this year, claiming that the companies each ran unlicensed sports gambling businesses.

— Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026
All this became possible without the raw data ever changing hands, with some vendors claiming accuracy gains of up to 40% from AI models trained inside them.

— Ivan Guzenko, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of claiming

Verb

But experts believe Kim's sister has been asserting her authority recently, too, and appearances like this week's are part of that effort.

— Anna Coren, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Reyes denied the government’s motion to recuse, asserting the facts contradict the administration’s criticism.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of asserting

Verb

Owen did not directly answer Heytens’s hypothetical question, instead insisting that the law at the center of the lawsuit was a violation of the contracts clause of the Constitution, which bars states from passing laws impairing public contracts.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
Trump, meanwhile, said that the war with Iran would end on his terms, while insisting that Tehran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of insisting

Verb

Link resigned from office before pleading guilty to unrelated tax evasion charges in September 2020.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Justin Perez, 28, of Springfield, Massachusetts took a plea deal on Monday in Rockville Superior Court, pleading guilty to charges of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026