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
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Recent Examples of contending
If those two QBs can increase their production, Denver and Jacksonville have a better shot at contending.
—
Mike Sando, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Many of the year’s top Oscar-contending documentaries are set for exhibition at the 11th annual Doc Stories, the prestigious four-day cinematic event in San Francisco put on by SFFILM.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Javice’s lawyers asked the judge on Monday to reconsider his order, contending that JPMorgan wasn’t entitled to recover defense legal costs.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
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
When did the Brewers look like a real playoff contending team?
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The path is similar this time around, and Tampa Bay is coming off a resounding 40-17 victory over the playoff-contending Los Angeles Chargers.
—Associated Pess, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
Mike Sando, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Many of the year’s top Oscar-contending documentaries are set for exhibition at the 11th annual Doc Stories, the prestigious four-day cinematic event in San Francisco put on by SFFILM.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025
Javice’s lawyers asked the judge on Monday to reconsider his order, contending that JPMorgan wasn’t entitled to recover defense legal costs.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
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
When did the Brewers look like a real playoff contending team?
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The path is similar this time around, and Tampa Bay is coming off a resounding 40-17 victory over the playoff-contending Los Angeles Chargers.
—Associated Pess, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
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Post-pandemic demand and chronic underbuilding in the area have left buyers competing fiercely, often bidding tens of thousands above asking.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The candidates are competing to replace Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who is reaching the end of his term limit.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Spanberger has called for the state government to stay out of decisions about who uses what bathrooms and locker rooms, arguing that's best left up to parents, teachers, students, and their school districts.—
Margaret Barthel,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
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Easley has voted against a few proposals made by Superintendent Hill, including the SYDKIMYL contract extension and this year’s budget, arguing its teacher raises were too small.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dunbar sued the company in 2022, alleging that the production failed to accommodate his belief in the tenets of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, which disapproves of vaccines and other medical interventions.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
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Clark, Sheila Edwards and Rodney Edwards’ widow, Kathryn Edwards, sued AES alleging negligence and lax workplace safety standards.—
Kelly Puente,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Clearly, the cost arguments haven’t been persuasive, with people reasoning the slightly higher costs are worth the improved treatment of farm animals.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
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Lower courts had blocked DHS’s mass termination, reasoning that federal law requires parole decisions to be made on an individual basis.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to court documents and statements made on the record, the DA's office alleged Jacob messaged his father on the evening of July 31, claiming Donald was assaulting him.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Lorincz, who is white, hated loud noise, and called police and first responders multiple times over the years claiming the children were trespassing, bothersome, threatening, and a nuisance.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, the doctrine does not apply if the person asserting self-defense was the initial aggressor.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Fletcher emphasized that withholding aid from civilians should never be a bargaining tool, asserting that ensuring its entry is a legal obligation.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The department has placed him on administrative leave pending the outcome of his immigration case but has not conceded fault, insisting that all standard vetting protocols were followed.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Scherzer could be seen shouting at Schneider, not so much pleading his case to stay in the game as insisting.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Djerf was sentenced to death in 1996 after pleading guilty to four counts of first-degree murder.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Santos was sentenced to and serving seven years in prison after pleading guilty to committing wire fraud and identity theft.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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