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.
During the event the horses gallop over natural country terrain, contending with obstacles of logs, stonewalls, water, banks and ditches. Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Every Mexican President has to contend with the looming influence of the United States—accommodating its whims and imperatives while convincing citizens that their interests come first. Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025 Over the course of his pontificate, Francis contended with conservatives and with a cumbersome bureaucracy practiced in the art of resisting change. Randall Balmer, Time, 21 Apr. 2025 In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn). Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 17 Apr. 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 29 Apr. 2025.

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!