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 The union contends that University of Illinois workers were given 2% raises in August but the advanced practice providers were not. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 Hanson contends that if passed, many renters won't need to ever invoke the policy. — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2026 The latter contends that on July 2 Van Gogh sent Theo a drawing based on the painting and that because of his breakdown on July 22, he was rendered unable to paint. — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026 The lawsuit in District Court for the District of Columbia contends that the federal government failed to comply with numerous statutes. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Some of the roughly 18 locations were chosen, Hale contends, because the city failed to respond to numerous 311 calls for improvement. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 But Uthmeier contends an overly broad reading of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause has been twisted into a tool to suppress Christians and other believers. — Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 The White House contends that the new proposal would give banks more flexibility under the law and drive greater economic development. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 On the other hand, the fossil fuel industry contends the legislation would prevent states and environmental groups from weaponizing courts to stop projects for reasons beyond what is written in federal statutes. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contends

Verb

Combining Instacart and DoorDash would create a larger company that better competes with those rivals.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Alabama State, located in Montgomery, Alabama, competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of competes

Verb

Wärtsilä argues that flexible engines could eventually help stabilize electricity grids once facilities receive permanent grid connections.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Masket argues that El-Sayed’s influence could make an impact ahead of the 2028 presidential race, particularly in the Midwest.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of argues

Verb

The charge alleges Guzman was driving at an unsafe speed to maintain control of the vehicle.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
The lawsuit was filed by Turkish national Nebahat Evyap Isbilen, who alleges that her former adviser Selman Turk misappropriated tens of millions of pounds of her money.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of alleges

Verb

Black asserts that the statements made by Garcia are false and that traveling to appear on national television to make such statements about the inquiry into Epstein’s crimes goes beyond the purview of a member of Congress.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
Those statements were false and were made maliciously, Black asserts through his lawyers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of asserts

Verb

Park recalled shopping with her mother, who dislikes heavy clothing and insists that garments feel light and comfortable, a preference that has informed her own designs.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
While Flock Safety has become the most prominent provider of the technology – and the most prominent target of critics – Langley insists his company isn’t the problem, especially in a city heavily watched by cameras other than ALPRs.

— Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of insists

Verb

Marshall's campaign, for its part, bet heavily on an attack ad surrounding claims that Hamilton protected a pedophile.

— Grace Hills, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Turk claims that Isbilen authorized the payment in hopes that Mountbatten-Windsor might be able to use his connections to help her husband, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 2015.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026