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 Cast members from Taylor Sheridan’s Landman and The Madison crossed paths at Paramount+’s All Trails Lead Here event celebrating the two award-contending television shows that take place in Sheridan’s broader western universe that kicked off with Yellowstone. —

Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 June 2026 Crosby, a deputy city attorney endorsed by the county Democratic Party, had sent mailers contending Bailey’s promises to reduce city spending would slash funding for parks, libraries and homeless shelters. —

David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026 There should be a long line of contending teams on hold waiting to make offers. —

Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026 In all four races, just two candidates are contending in the primary, meaning all eight are guaranteed to appear on the General Election ballot in November. —

Victoria Le, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 On Monday, two contending teams made blockbuster trades in efforts to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 61. —

Jim Reineking, USA Today, 2 June 2026 MacFarland and the Avs made a historic number of in-season trades for a contending team a year ago. —

Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 2 June 2026 And while Alcantara has never really profiled as a true big-league solution for a contending team like the Phillies, some additional depth certainly wouldn’t hurt. —

Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 And the barometer for success would be a team that sets up as capable of contending to get to the NBA Finals, where recent seasons, and perhaps even this one, have shown that injuries for the opposition can change anything. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending

Verb

Now, though, NIL offers teams like Indiana and Texas Tech a quick path to competing at a national level.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
As part of our Language of Soccer World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition to capture their unique football culture, distilled into a single phrase.

— Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 3 June 2026