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
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
Coyne disagreed, contending the city needs new revenue like the money that would come from the empty homes tax, which would tax people who own a home but don’t live in it.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 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
Axelman also pointed to a 2025 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court striking down part of the state's Fair Districts amendments, contending that the entire framework should be invalidated.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Dylan Lonergan, who started 10 games at Boston College, and holdover backup AJ Surace are contending for the job at Rutgers.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The intimate High Tea will feature a forum-style discussion with Emmy-contending female directors whose creative vision is shaping the current and future TV landscape.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Coyne disagreed, contending the city needs new revenue like the money that would come from the empty homes tax, which would tax people who own a home but don’t live in it.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 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
Axelman also pointed to a 2025 ruling by the Florida Supreme Court striking down part of the state's Fair Districts amendments, contending that the entire framework should be invalidated.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Dylan Lonergan, who started 10 games at Boston College, and holdover backup AJ Surace are contending for the job at Rutgers.
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The intimate High Tea will feature a forum-style discussion with Emmy-contending female directors whose creative vision is shaping the current and future TV landscape.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
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Second, colleges and conferences are competing businesses that use NCAA rules to limit how each can compete for college athletes’ services.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
6 May 2026
-
Ballard, who started two games in 2023 after arriving as a walk-on, and Marshall, a dual-threat who led his Michigan high school to a state championship, are stylistically different but close friends competing for the top job.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
DeSantis is arguing that Florida’s significant growth over the past few years merits a redraw of the state’s congressional boundaries.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
On homelessness, Steyer wants to expand interim housing options with services, arguing the state has focused too much on building permanent housing for the homeless that is too costly and takes too long to open.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The abduction reflects escalating instability in Mali, where military authorities have made arrests alleging that soldiers collaborated with the attackers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
These are a handful of examples the government intends to highlight in a federal racketeering trial alleging that top International Brotherhood of Boilermakers executives schemed to steal $20 million in union funds for their personal use.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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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Many researchers, clinicians and patient advocates soon rushed to RP1’s defense, claiming that the FDA had made a mistake in its rejection.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
2 May 2026
-
Horses peek out from their stalls, a would-be Derby winner sharing space with an anonymous claiming horse.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The complaint also alleged that Cento makes many false references asserting the product is DOP certified on its website and Amazon page.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
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Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents the 15th Council District, pinned the blame for the fire on Caltrans in an interview Wednesday, asserting that the agency failed on multiple fronts, including learning from past incidents.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The 48-year-old musician repeated his anti-Jewish rhetoric in a 2025 post insisting his words aren’t the ramblings of a drunkard.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
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His opponents mostly argue within the same framework, insisting the system should be fairer but still organized around the same ideals.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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In fact, a case could be made that the involvement of former Heat guard Damon Jones stood more impactful in the FBI’s gambling investigation, pleading guilty on Tuesday to two counts of wire-fraud conspiracy.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Gerald, meanwhile, was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to all three murders.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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