CONTENDS Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

contends

verb

present tense third-person singular of contend

as in competes

to engage in a contest two traditional rivals contending for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in argues

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 alleges

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 contends True loyalty, the article contends, lies in dedication to one's craft, continuous learning, and impact. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit contends Equifax failed to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 31 July 2026 The Star contends that the city did not respond to the newspaper’s records request. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Historian Jennifer Morgan similarly contends that enslaved women’s reproductive capacities were essential for the economic logic of hereditary racial slavery. — Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2026 The lawsuit contends that Hutchins’ death was caused by reckless behavior by Baldwin, who was both the star of the film and one of its producers, and by the actions of the film’s other producers, its production managers and several crew members. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 The lawsuit also contends that the officers never should have pulled over to the bus stop. — Julia Coin updated July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026 This open approach, AMD contends, empowers the company to collaborate with diverse players such as semiconductor firm Cerebras to blend different compute technologies. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 23 July 2026 Taylor-Whitfield contends for All-Big 12 honors, while Bennett and McKinney provide stability in the middle of the offensive line. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contends

Verb

The club also regularly competes for top talent transferring into the league, and prioritizes spending money on the roster.

— John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Woods, who competes using her maiden name Sophie Amy Grant, set off on July 4 in Trieste, Italy, and finished on the Mediterranean coast of Monaco.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of competes

Verb

San Jose argues there's no reasonable expectation of privacy on public roads, pointing to a California appeals court decision that allowed police to access traffic camera footage of a murder suspect without a warrant.

— Maddie White, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
In a new paper, Zahavy argues that current large language models (LLMs) may be unable to make original discoveries on their own.

— Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of argues

Verb

The complaint alleges that the woman picked up her son from her business in Mankato after receiving calls from him in the hours following the shooting.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit alleges both officers violated department policy by using deadly force against a person who did not present an imminent threat of serious physical injury or death.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of alleges

Verb

The filing puts his value at some $600 million in assets and business interests at the time of his death, and asserts that Tracey is looking for her rightful share.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Hirsch asserts Turnout has helped more than 10,000 people with Social Security disability claims alone.

— Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of asserts

Verb

Harvey, whose own foundation went 17 years without winning a single grant, argues AI can cut the paperwork burden — but insists human judgment and relationships stay irreplaceable.

— Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Instead of budgeting for $1,800 in tissues, the school insists on agitating parents all summer over crap like this.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of insists

Verb

And while a white couch can be very high-risk, Castlery claims that the Performance fabric is spill-resistant.

— Susie Plotkin, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
The resolution further claims that the university’s staffing cuts were also tied to overall enrollment declines, while the law school’s enrollment is increasing.

— Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026