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
His extraordinary journey from utter isolation to human connection is revealed in the Oscar-contending documentary Ghost Boy, directed by Rodney Ascher (Room 237, A Glitch in the Matrix), winner of the Audience Award at SXSW in the Visions category.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
But the tariffs spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Spotify also refuted that the program only helps major label artists, contending that the feature is popular among both major and independent acts.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
While Skenes' early years are apparently being wasted in a Pittsburgh organization that refuses to spend money to create a playoff-contending roster around him, the Pirates could build from within to create a strong team a few years down the road by stockpiling top prospects, Rymer argued.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Baseball as a whole has never been more prosperous even as lower payroll teams are having a harder and harder time contending for a championship.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
One of the Super Bowl contending teams who could be active at the deadline is the Buffalo Bills.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
There were no matchups between favorites, no major upsets and minimal notable injuries among contending teams.
—Scott Phillips, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
The Mid-City district requested a delay, contending the proposal was an improper attempt by the mayor’s office to take funds away from neighborhood leaders.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
But the tariffs spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Spotify also refuted that the program only helps major label artists, contending that the feature is popular among both major and independent acts.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
While Skenes' early years are apparently being wasted in a Pittsburgh organization that refuses to spend money to create a playoff-contending roster around him, the Pirates could build from within to create a strong team a few years down the road by stockpiling top prospects, Rymer argued.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Baseball as a whole has never been more prosperous even as lower payroll teams are having a harder and harder time contending for a championship.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
One of the Super Bowl contending teams who could be active at the deadline is the Buffalo Bills.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
There were no matchups between favorites, no major upsets and minimal notable injuries among contending teams.
—Scott Phillips, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
The Mid-City district requested a delay, contending the proposal was an improper attempt by the mayor’s office to take funds away from neighborhood leaders.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
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Students from various school programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America will flood the Stock Show competing in meat and dairy cattle judging, among other events.—
Brayden Garcia
January 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
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All the teams in that tournament were guaranteed $1 million just for competing.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump has openly lobbied for the Nobel Peace Prize, arguing that his actions have helped resolve multiple international conflicts, claims that have drawn public backing from several world leaders.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Prosecutors deny Bondi has conflict of interest Federal prosecutors slammed the defense's claims as meritless and misleading, arguing there is no conflict of interest with the attorney general because there is no present or future financial gain.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit also accuses the MD-11 model and its CF-6 engines of having a troubling safety history, alleging that the aircraft has been linked to multiple catastrophic failures and ranks among the least reliable commercial planes still in service.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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Last month, Berry’s family filed a lawsuit against the city of Sacramento and RT alleging wrongful death alleging the agency neglected to ensure the safety of their passengers.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lab specializes in embodied AI—systems that integrate sensing, learning, and reasoning to make decisions in the physical world.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Dec. 2025
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But in 1970, the Supreme Court did away with the requirement, reasoning that trial courts should have leeway to call in fewer members of the community for jury service.—
Time,
Time,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Second, the large amplitudes of the gravitational waves needed to generate the events that Weber was claiming a detection of would provide more energy than could possibly cosmically exist in any-and-all forms of radiation combined; the Universe as a whole ruled his interpretation out.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Nov. 2025
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Orbán, however, denied this, claiming that the Croatian government would need to enlarge the pipeline to meet Hungary’s needs.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For years, Putin has been asserting a vision of a world divided by a few powerful men into spheres of influence.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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The mayor called on ICE agents to leave the city, asserting that federal immigration authorities were ripping families apart and sowing chaos on Minneapolis streets.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s nothing anti-tech about insisting that invention and fairness coexist.—
Gerard Scimeca,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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Several tech players are already constructing private energy plants for their own use as part of their data center buildouts, so there is nothing radical about Democrats insisting on tying approvals for data centers to bearing the cost of enhancing the public grid.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pollack is best known for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and negotiating Assange’s 2024 plea deal with the Justice Department, which resulted in Assange’s immediate release after pleading guilty to a single felony count under the Espionage Act.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
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Republicans have been sounding alarms for Newsom’s entire 15-year career in Sacramento, pleading with him to act on our wildland management problem – to no avail.—
Brian Jones,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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