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 In the eyes of Lakers coach JJ Redick, each game the Lakers (5-2) play is a step in a process aimed at becoming a championship-contending team. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 If the Big Ten was resting their hopes on Ohio State being able to put together an offense capable of contending for a national championship, then Saturday night's 30-18 loss to USC was a reality check on the current situation. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026 Trump has used the campaign trail to defend the Iran war, contending Tehran’s regime cannot have a nuclear weapon. — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 The students challenge that interpretation, contending that the university has not established that their individual statements constituted legally unprotected threats or caused the level of disruption required to justify punishment. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 Which of the new top five hits is most likely to keep contending into the new year? — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026 But one thing is certain that is not going to be a walkover for any of the contending parties at all in this election. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 He’s thrived under pressure, delivering in tight spots while proving conducive to winning on multiple contending clubs. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 The Netflix film, which premiered at New York Film Festival earlier this month, is one of 10 Oscar-contending feature documentaries included in Doc Stories’ lineup. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending

Verb

The disputes later spilled into the courts, with players challenging suspensions and the rival organizations pursuing competing legal claims.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
There are competing biological explanations that are yet to be ruled out, too.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of competing

Verb

Wisconsin Democrats have failed on multiple occasions to petition the Wisconsin Supreme Court to grant a redraw of the maps, arguing that the current map unfairly favors Republicans.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly questioned whether women should serve in ground combat and special operations roles, arguing that their inclusion could undermine military effectiveness and physical standards.

— James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

OpenAI faces several lawsuits from state AGs and plaintiff attorneys, taking cues from the social media suits in alleging that the design of ChatGPT can pose risks to children.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
The family of a victim who suffered a traumatic brain injury and a broken nose filed a lawsuit against Mater Dei and the Diocese of Orange, alleging the Mater Dei administration covered up the incident.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of alleging

Verb

In November 2023, a lawsuit was filed against UnitedHealthcare, claiming one of its subsidiaries denied claims for post-acute care using an artificial intelligence program without human review.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Gwinnett County was sued by a coalition of left-wing voting rights groups, including the ACLU, SPLC, and Legal Defense Fund, over the weekend, claiming that 1,820 residents did not receive their mail ballots.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of claiming

Verb

Wyden also declared expanding healthcare and asserting authority over trade policy as legislative priorities for the upcoming session.

— Spencer Kimball,Garrett Downs,Dan Mangan,Kevin Breuninger,Justin Papp, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Then in June, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo asserting that Section 504 and the ADA don’t actually mandate that states support disabled people to remain integrated in their communities.

— Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of asserting

Verb

Trump has made false claims about voting fraud, such as insisting noncitizens are casting ballots en masse.

— Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
If anything, such excessive spending from the world’s richest man sparked a backlash and counter-campaign insisting Texas was not for sale.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of insisting

Verb

Zakary Dean Hirschfield, 24, of Centennial, received a five-year prison term after pleading guilty to felony eluding of a peace officer following the January pursuit through Douglas County, authorities said.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Cunha was convicted of arson in 2016 after pleading guilty to setting at least 30 fires in rural areas east of Sacramento during 2006 and 2007, causing $7 million in damage, The Sacramento Bee reported at the time.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026