1
2
as in to argue
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 to insist
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 contend
Gitesatani then walked away and retreated into the crowd, the indictment contends.
—
City News Service, Daily News, 18 May 2026
In response, Lululemon has asserted that its leadership is why the brand has been able to scale into an $11 billion retailer, and contended Wilson is aligned with direct competitors including Alo Yoga and Vuori, who Wilson has admitted to advising, security filings show.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 18 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
The 12 former government officials contend that eliminating this 60-year practice will remove a critical tool for identifying workplace discrimination, and that this move marks a retreat from the EEOC’s role in ensuring nondiscrimination in employment.
—Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contend
City News Service, Daily News, 18 May 2026
In response, Lululemon has asserted that its leadership is why the brand has been able to scale into an $11 billion retailer, and contended Wilson is aligned with direct competitors including Alo Yoga and Vuori, who Wilson has admitted to advising, security filings show.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 18 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
The 12 former government officials contend that eliminating this 60-year practice will remove a critical tool for identifying workplace discrimination, and that this move marks a retreat from the EEOC’s role in ensuring nondiscrimination in employment.
—Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contend
Verb
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And before this win, Rai was expecting to have to compete on the PGA Tour’s fall schedule to work his way up the FedEx Cup rankings.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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The program also ensured any female athlete who finished one spot out of qualifying for the state finals in events that included a trans competitor, to compete for the title as well.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Anyone seriously arguing now that money wasn't a major or even the decisive factor here?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
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At the civil trial, plaintiffs argued Parker failed to properly investigate the reports of the gun.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Real change begins when communities insist on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and hope rather than pushing people out of sight.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Maybe, for those who knew his story, this was a high school marker for when college recruiters insisted Jackson was a receiver at the next level.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Verb
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David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images On the agentic AI front, Google announced Gemini Spark, a new general purpose AI agent in the Gemini app that can reason across information in connected apps.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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No Supreme Court decision, no matter how reactionary or ill-reasoned, will ever extinguish the desire of Black Americans to be free and equal.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors allege Saab led a yearslong scheme beginning around 2015 to defraud a humanitarian program intended to provide food to impoverished Venezuelans.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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In a criminal complaint obtained by the New York Post, prosecutors alleged that McHenry stabbed Bachmann in the neck and chest inside her car.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Officials are pleading with farmers not to give up, stressing that local agriculture is crucial for the isolated archipelago.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
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For his financial crimes, Murdaugh was sentenced in state court to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to 22 counts including money laundering and breach of trust.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The game has already produced seven winners in 2026, including a rapid stretch in late April and early May when four jackpots were claimed in just four days, underscoring how quickly fortunes have turned this year.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Kelsey Plum nearly claimed a double-double with 27 points and nine assists, while Dearica Hamby had 19 points with seven rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Still, Clarke’s love of literature and affinity for great prose can assert themselves now and then.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Yeah, add that to the long list of unsupported claims about these vaccines that have ranged from various anti-vaxxers asserting that the vaccines will turn you into a gigantic magnet to attributing seemingly every celebrity illness and death during the COVID-19 pandemic to the COVID-19 vaccines.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contend. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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