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 The Flames and head coach Jamey Chadwell should be back to contending in Conference USA, led by transfer running backs Kam Davis (Florida State) and Kanye Udoh (Arizona State). — Justin Williams, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Another group of scholars eventually refuted the claims in 2023, contending the ring had no connection to anyone named Pilate. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 But soon after, Defending Education, a national conservative advocacy group filed a complaint with the Education Department, contending that students of all races struggle in Chicago schools. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The sparkling personality of Israa lights up One in a Million, the Oscar-contending documentary that won two awards at Sundance, including the directing award for Itab Azzam and Jack Macinnes. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 Kiley turned the criticism around, contending that his willingness to work with both parties was a strength. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Honeywell will now try to craft some similar moments with a contending Padres team. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The commission decided to require the regulatory language, contending such language is needed to make the policies in the plan enforceable under the state’s Coastal Act. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Her absence — along with DNPs from multiple key Liberty starters — contributed to a contending team entering Thursday in a three-way tie for sixth place in league standings. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending

Verb

Excluding pole vault and high jump, the jumps and throws include fields of only eight athletes competing over four rounds (compared to six attempts each in an Olympic final).

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Whenever letter writer shares a baby photo on the family group chat, sister adds a competing one that draws conversation her way.

— Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of competing

Verb

Milei has rejected calls for government intervention, arguing that unpaid debts are a private matter between borrowers and lenders rather than a symptom of wider economic distress.

— Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Reddington said his first priority is arguing later this month that a retrial would violate Clancy's constitutional protection against double jeopardy because the mistrial was declared over the defense's objection.

— Bryan Llenas , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

After the dust cleared, the Patriots fan was in handcuffs and eyewitnesses were alleging that this was all over the Pats fan trying to sit in the wrong seat.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
On May 30, the celebrity gossip Instagram page DeuxMoi uploaded a post alleging that money had been transferred out of her bank accounts.

— Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of alleging

Verb

Now apply that to everything else that a student might do in an educational setting, from reading comprehension to reasoning to critical thinking to even making friends.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Some aldermen sought to ban them, reasoning that businesses using them should switch to the legalized, and therefore regulated and taxed, VGTs.

— Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of reasoning

Verb

After a stabbing in Southport, England, in 2024, viral posts falsely claiming that the suspect was a Muslim and an undocumented migrant spread rapidly to millions via X and other platforms, inflaming the riots that ensued.

— Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Communications can change how a brand is understood without claiming sole responsibility for every commercial result that follows.

— Julia Ruttner, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of claiming

Verb

South African leaders reject Washington’s accusations, arguing land expropriation and affirmative action measures seek to repair apartheid-era injustices and insisting the United States respect the country’s sovereignty and policy choices.

— Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Authorities have shown little interest in such fiscal stimulus, however, insisting instead that a long-term shift to high-tech sectors will power the economy.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of insisting

Verb

Following its conclusion, Mark Salling (Puck) was determined to have died by suicide in January 2018, several months after pleading guilty to charges associated with possession of child pornography.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2026
Instead, last Friday, Bommeli accepted a last-minute plea deal, pleading no contest to a lesser charge of manslaughter, desecration of a human corpse and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction.

— Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026