1
as in competing
to engage in a contest
two traditional rivals contending for the championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of contending
The government is citing legal technicalities and contending the law does not define how a commission should be fairly balanced or whose viewpoints should be represented.
—
ABC News, 9 May 2026
In addition to contending federal law overrides state statutes like the sanctuary law, the institute is taking a novel legal tack, according to Alex Riggins of the Union-Tribune.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The Orellana-Peralta family filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court contending that the officer, William Jones, should have slowed down and deferred to other officers at the scene who had already determined that the suspect wasn’t armed with a gun, as was first believed.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Asked to absorb more responsibility and help bear a title-contending offense on his 23-year-old shoulders.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Cramer brushed off that concern for AMD, contending the supply constraints actually reinforce a broader imbalance that drives demand and pricing power and supports its stock performance .
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Landlords said rental assistance never fully compensated them for their losses, contending programs were often mired in red tape and poorly run.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Medicaid advocates say that many eligible people could lose coverage, contending that Nebraska officials haven’t given enrollees enough advance notice or clear guidance on how the process works.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Reader is the kind of free agent who may be weighing his options between a contending team and a team like the Giants who might have to overpay to lure him to the Big Apple.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 9 May 2026
In addition to contending federal law overrides state statutes like the sanctuary law, the institute is taking a novel legal tack, according to Alex Riggins of the Union-Tribune.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The Orellana-Peralta family filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court contending that the officer, William Jones, should have slowed down and deferred to other officers at the scene who had already determined that the suspect wasn’t armed with a gun, as was first believed.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Asked to absorb more responsibility and help bear a title-contending offense on his 23-year-old shoulders.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Cramer brushed off that concern for AMD, contending the supply constraints actually reinforce a broader imbalance that drives demand and pricing power and supports its stock performance .
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Landlords said rental assistance never fully compensated them for their losses, contending programs were often mired in red tape and poorly run.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Medicaid advocates say that many eligible people could lose coverage, contending that Nebraska officials haven’t given enrollees enough advance notice or clear guidance on how the process works.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Reader is the kind of free agent who may be weighing his options between a contending team and a team like the Giants who might have to overpay to lure him to the Big Apple.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
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Teams are at the center of the action when competing against another, complete with the celebrations and disappointments that are the hallmarks of any game show.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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The competing offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo should answer that question.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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In recent years, a few prominent detransitioners, including Chloe Cole and Prisha Mosley, have advocated for restrictions on transition care for minors, arguing in lawsuits against doctors who treated them that their care was too easy to access and that doctors failed them.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
-
James Ward During the debate, Republican candidate Steve Hilton said that only a small percentage of California has been developed for housing, arguing that the state should focus on building homes on undeveloped land rather than increasing density in existing cities.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that the electronics manufacturer used her likeness to sell TVs without paying her and without permission.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
10 May 2026
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Since then, multiple outlets, including the Italian news agency Adnkronos, have reported that Israel’s representative, Belu-Simion Fainaru, pressured the Biennale behind the scenes, alleging discrimination on the basis of race and antisemitism, and threatening to bring the show to court.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Initially working out of a facility in the industrial section of Seattle, Stephenson gathered a group of like minds to brainstorm new methods for reaching space, reasoning that chemical rockets had not much improved in the decades since their debut.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
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Although studio Universal had wanted to skip critic screenings, Gunn managed to persuade them otherwise, reasoning that some positive reviews might sell a few extra tickets.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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But claiming just one big prize is hard.—
Jack Jankowski,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
-
Pam Cox called 911 during an argument, claiming her husband had pulled her hair.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The law allows a President to exclude personal records, sets out timetables for releasing documents once the President has left office, and provides a mechanism for asserting executive privilege to keep certain material secret.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Jokic stuck up for Adelman after the season-ending loss, asserting that the outcome wasn’t his fault.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Wednesday that Moscow’s fundamental terms are unchanged, with Putin insisting that Ukraine pull its troops from the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but hasn’t fully captured.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Then there are those who, as a rule, never touch the glands, insisting that the risks outweigh the benefits.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But this, after more than a million K-pop fans in Mexico tried and failed to buy tickets for a three-night run of shows by the beloved band BTS, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter to her counterpart in South Korea, pleading for more concert dates.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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The teen suspect was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment on Thursday.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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