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
The switch also gives Soriano the chance to pitch against the contending Mariners instead of the last-place Minnesota Twins.
—
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
When the closures began, the California Restaurant Association contended that as many as 30,000 of the state’s 90,000 restaurants might close for good.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Some contend mythologising such events does a disservice to those who lost their lives in maritime disasters.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Parker contends that a constellation of factors, including genetics, inflammation, and stress, enable acetaminophen to trigger autism in certain children.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contend
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
When the closures began, the California Restaurant Association contended that as many as 30,000 of the state’s 90,000 restaurants might close for good.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Some contend mythologising such events does a disservice to those who lost their lives in maritime disasters.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Parker contends that a constellation of factors, including genetics, inflammation, and stress, enable acetaminophen to trigger autism in certain children.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contend
Verb
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Drennan, 43, grew up helping his brothers and uncles build derby cars and later competed in a few derbies himself.—
Sean Clancy,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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Masino argued the company needed to update its image, menu and restaurants to compete in a difficult environment.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Penske’s complaint argues that practice isn’t a fair exchange and has caused significant financial harm, with the company’s affiliate revenue falling by more than a third (as a result of Google’s AI Overviews co-opting traffic that might have otherwise gone to Penske outlets).—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Critics and rights groups argued that both the ban and the bill function as tools for censorship, threatening freedom of expression, press freedom and fundamental rights.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Google, of course, insists the AI Overviews arrangement benefits everyone.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Caracas insists the buildup is part of a broader campaign directed at undermining President Nicolás Maduro’s government.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In this task, intuition is reflected in whether people can suddenly sense connections between things without consciously reasoning them out.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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If making movies couldn’t happen for him, Newell eventually reasoned his next best thing might be to stage movies live.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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American officials have alleged that North Korea is engaged in a long-running effort to use cyberattacks, cryptocurrency theft and IT contractors to gather information on behalf of the government in Pyongyang.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
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Cox was also asked about a Sunday New York Times report that alleged Robinson had communicated with others on Discord after the shooting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Somerville pleaded no contest to the DUI charge in August 2022 and was ordered to attend DUI classes and given three years probation, ending in 2025.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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In 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges and was sentenced to six years in federal prison, though he was released early in 2022.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, Andor — raised by his mother with idealized tales of his dead father — has his world turned upside down when a brutish man appears, claiming to be his true father.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
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Roughly $140,000 is claimed to have been spent on this car’s restoration by the consignor prior to its 2019 sale.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Children want to change, as Adam Phillips asserts, but adults want to stay the same.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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Limit your interaction with them when possible and assert your boundaries firmly.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contend. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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