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
For instance, Loevy represented two people arrested in 2005 and subjected to strip searches at the Cook County Jail, contending that the strip-search procedures violated their constitutional rights.
—
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Another candidate was an outspoken opponent, contending that the project was a sop to developers.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
More than half the field was involved in crashes during the first two segments, eliminating Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain and leaving Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson with damaged cars incapable of contending.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
This is where those pieces of history come into play, since jockeys riding notable contending horses are more likely to get TV face time.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Meanwhile, the city of San Diego refused to issue permits, contending the project of 139 hotel rooms and 75 apartments above ground-floor shops is not legal as proposed.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Extreme discipline, extraordinary creativity, savvy governance and a whole lot of patience are going to be required to get this team back to meaningfully contending for the Stanley Cup.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Cramer brushed off that concern for AMD, contending the supply constraints actually reinforce a broader imbalance that drives demand and pricing power and supports its stock performance .
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Another candidate was an outspoken opponent, contending that the project was a sop to developers.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
More than half the field was involved in crashes during the first two segments, eliminating Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain and leaving Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson with damaged cars incapable of contending.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
This is where those pieces of history come into play, since jockeys riding notable contending horses are more likely to get TV face time.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
Meanwhile, the city of San Diego refused to issue permits, contending the project of 139 hotel rooms and 75 apartments above ground-floor shops is not legal as proposed.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Extreme discipline, extraordinary creativity, savvy governance and a whole lot of patience are going to be required to get this team back to meaningfully contending for the Stanley Cup.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Cramer brushed off that concern for AMD, contending the supply constraints actually reinforce a broader imbalance that drives demand and pricing power and supports its stock performance .
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
-
The Briton’s triumph is not the only example of how experience can be advantageous in equestrian, a sport where athletes are still competing into their 70s for the biggest prizes.—
Danielle Rossingh,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Success increasingly depends on helping sellers connect solutions to measurable business outcomes rather than competing in a race to the bottom.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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In a letter to Knudsen, the Mid-North Association also directly opposed the athletic lighting plan, arguing that field lights do not belong in a residential neighborhood and would disturb community members’ lives, including by increasing traffic in the area.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Trump spent months criticizing Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, for being reluctant to cut interests rates, with the Republican president arguing that lower borrowing costs would provide an economic boost.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Residents file class-action lawsuit against tank owner Two residents, a couple who live in the evacuation zone, filed a lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace, alleging the company negligently stored and handled MMA, which led to widespread disruptions for their community.—
Nina Giraldo,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
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In 2024, for example, federal prosecutors filed an indictment alleging that Russian state media employees had paid nearly $10 million to a Tennessee company that paid popular right-wing social media influencers to unwittingly produce pro-Russia content.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, ERs are messy, real-world clinical environments where reasoning under pressure matters most.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
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
Verb
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Garcia said while Saint-Hilaire and Negron were friends with each other, reports claiming that Suarez was also friends of both victims were inaccurate.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
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The football game directive came about a week after Ingoglia held a press conference criticizing Alachua County — where UF’s campus is located — for excessive or wasteful spending to the tune of $84 million over five years, claiming the budget grew by 77%.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Her shift in direction brought the undercurrent of R&B influence from her earliest releases to the forefront while still asserting her position in pop.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
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So, the next time someone tries to gaslight you by asserting the authority of a mythical being over your own reading, call it out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Wednesday that Moscow’s fundamental terms are unchanged, with Putin insisting that Ukraine pull its troops from the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but hasn’t fully captured.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Then there are those who, as a rule, never touch the glands, insisting that the risks outweigh the benefits.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
After pleading guilty to four first-degree murders while admitting to killing 17 women and raping dozens, he was sentenced to nearly 500 years in prison.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Two men were sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping for luring a man to the Eagle Foothills on an offer of a photography shoot, but then tasing, restraining and beating him last fall.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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