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

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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

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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 Beijing has so far avoided that framing, and is contending fiercely with Washington across the board. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026 Others disagreed with Matheson’s assertion, contending that the Coliseum sale’s complications simply reflect the troubled economics behind developing the kind of sports-and-entertainment multiplex that OAC envisions. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 The Sparks’ ownership made a major shift in direction on Sunday, firing general manager Raegan Pebley amid a lackluster season that has the team just below the WNBA playoff cutoff line and far from the title-contending form Pebley promised. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026 The forward had just come off a Ballon d’Or contending season as the Champions League’s joint top scorer and highest goal contributions provider, as Barça reached the semifinals of the European competition yet landed a domestic treble. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 Robinson’s attorneys had argued against the public release of Twiggs’ statements, contending that prosecutors would label them a confession and harm their client’s right to a fair trial. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 9 July 2026 Prosecutors argued the trial judge should have first ordered a fitness assessment, contending language deprivation syndrome could amount to a mental disorder under Canada’s Criminal Code. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026 None of the Flyers’ current centers — Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates or Sean Couturier — are likely to be a top-line center on a contending team. — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 July 2026 Coastal Commission staff objected to city proposals to more aggressively shorten hours at many of the 35 affected lots, contending that would restrict coastal access too much. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending

Verb

Adidas reportedly spent $67 million on its hero film, Backyard Legends, while Nike also splashed heavily on talent — Kim Kardashian, Kylian Mbappé, Central Cee, and LeBron James, among others — for its competing short, Rip the Script.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 16 July 2026
Microsoft tied itself tightly to OpenAI through a series of investments, but the two companies drifted and became competing with each other after the abrupt 2023 ousting and reinstatement of OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, with little notice to Nadella.

— Jordan Novet, CNBC, 16 July 2026

Definition of competing

Verb

Earlier on Thursday, Paramount filed its opposition, arguing that the states are unlikely to prevail on their case and should not be granted a restraining order.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 July 2026
In 2013, the Surfrider Foundation sued Khosla’s LLCs, arguing that the Coastal Act required them to obtain a permit before restricting public access to the beach.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 July 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Van Brunt said inspection reports by a state attorney are crucial in lawsuits alleging constitutional violations.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Taco Bell has been sued at least three times in federal court this week, with plaintiffs alleging negligence, breach of warranty and violations of deceptive trade practices law for allegedly selling contaminated lettuce.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of alleging

Verb

The update to Muse Spark beats out Google’s latest release of Gemini in benchmarks measuring coding and reasoning capabilities, according to the tech giant.

— Ben Weiss, Fortune, 9 July 2026
Judge Biggs largely agreed with Williamson that Ford should have known her counterclaims were without merit, reasoning that outlook became clear after the court held the five-year contract was void as a matter of law.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of reasoning

Verb

The Pentagon is not revealing its equipment losses, but Tehran is claiming large numbers of US Black Hawk helicopters destroyed and base infrastructure like aircraft hangars heavily damaged in its days of attacks.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
The Senate argues that the blacklist itself was not challenged by the EU Commission, claiming that only provisions giving too much power to the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication are problematic.

— Samuel Petrequin, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Definition of claiming

Verb

But Khamenei has remained hidden from public view, neither addressing the nation directly nor visibly asserting his authority, even as officials negotiate or govern in his name.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Before Sajet stepped down, the Smithsonian released a statement asserting that only its secretary and board can make such decisions, not the president.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of asserting

Verb

Trump suggested Newsom should be arrested over his handling of the unrest, insisting the National Guard was needed.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 July 2026
Daley agreed to speak with detectives after his DNA was collected and denied the allegations while insisting his DNA would not be found on the child.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of insisting

Verb

Singh, who was 21 at the time of the crash, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in June to three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, court records show.

— Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Izabel Reed, also of Roeland Park, was sentenced to 25 years in prison April 1 after previously pleading no contest to two counts of distribution of drugs causing death.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026