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
The Wizards are talking about contending next season, once their centerpiece arrives through the draft.
—
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
After the second call was overturned, Twins manager Derek Shelton exploded from the dugout, contending Helsley didn’t challenge in time.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Wild proved their commitment to contending this season by signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension — the richest deal in league history.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Few contending teams have boasted two high-caliber quarterbacks with starting experience.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Many of his peers and former rivals have long since retired, burned out by the task of recruiting and coaching while also raising funds from boosters in order to build title-contending rosters.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
The Miami Marlins find themselves in a familiar limbo of either contending for the postseason or heading into another rebuilding year.
—Takashi Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The Carolina Panthers had the kind of free agency that could impact their contending chances in 2026 and beyond.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
That 72-52 victory boosted beliefs internally and externally that the Bruins were capable of contending.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
After the second call was overturned, Twins manager Derek Shelton exploded from the dugout, contending Helsley didn’t challenge in time.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The Wild proved their commitment to contending this season by signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136 million contract extension — the richest deal in league history.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Few contending teams have boasted two high-caliber quarterbacks with starting experience.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Many of his peers and former rivals have long since retired, burned out by the task of recruiting and coaching while also raising funds from boosters in order to build title-contending rosters.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2026
The Miami Marlins find themselves in a familiar limbo of either contending for the postseason or heading into another rebuilding year.
—Takashi Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The Carolina Panthers had the kind of free agency that could impact their contending chances in 2026 and beyond.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
That 72-52 victory boosted beliefs internally and externally that the Bruins were capable of contending.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
-
Just getting to this point, where competing in meaningful games on national television is the norm, is a sign of the culture shift within the Charlotte Hornets.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Health care providers regularly transfer those patients elsewhere, competing for spaces in other counties.—
ANNIKA MERRILEES,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Greenwood Village Police Department investigators said the men had been arguing while driving with two other people in the SUV when Hernandez pulled over and everyone but Hernandez got out of the vehicle to cool down.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The city sued, arguing the Angels were violating the lease, but a jury sided with the baseball team.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chippewa Cree Tribe and Piikani Lodge Health Institute lost millions after USDA terminated 49 of 50 farm grants, alleging diversity, equity and inclusion issues and wasteful spending.—
Nora Mabie,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Iranian Revolutionary Guards took credit for the strike, alleging the jet was brought down in southwestern Iran Friday morning.—
Olivia Rinaldi,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gemini 3 Pro invented elaborate technical justifications for marking incorrect answers as correct, reasoning that doing so would bring the peer’s score above the shutdown threshold.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Predictably, our children will develop deeper critical-thinking and independent-reasoning abilities.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Based on simple human longevity, the typical retiree will collect the most benefits in the long run by claiming the largest possible monthly check.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
During the course of the bribery-kickback scheme, Joseph aided in the filing of false tax returns by claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in false business deductions.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Neighborhoods have been torched for asserting voting rights or attempting to desegregate schools.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The memo and other documents referred to Musk multiple times as the head of DOGE, although other parts of the government were asserting that same month that Musk was not the person in charge of the department.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But confusion remains over the basis of the plan for those talks, with Iran insisting on a 10-point plan that includes its full control over the Strait of Hormuz, removal of sanctions and accepting Iran's right to enrichment.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
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France has been critical, insisting that the war was launched without respecting international law and that Paris was never consulted about it.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the other end, Gordon was pleading Jokic’s case and picked up his own tech — another free throw.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, the President taunted America’s allies, some of whom had been pleading for a settlement over Hormuz.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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