contend with

phrasal verb

contended with; contending with; contends with
: to deal with (something difficult or unpleasant)
Customers should not have to contend with the problems caused by these delays.

Examples of contend with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With hiring tracking downward, unemployment has risen particularly fast among those with less experience, so while America’s overall unemployment rate has sat around 4%, those in the 16 to 19 age bracket are contending with a 14% rate, while 19 to 24-year-olds average around 9%. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025 Along the way, the group must contend with the natural world, bullies, their families, and the problems that come with growing up. Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025 During Bruno's term, ULA fought to contend with launch competitor SpaceX, which successfully landed a Falcon 9 booster for the first time in 2015 to lower costs through reusability. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025 The pause comes at a moment when bourbon makers are contending with swelling inventories, weakening sales and mounting uncertainty tied to international trade — all while producing a product that requires years of aging before it can be sold. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contend with

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contend with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contend%20with. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!