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Showing results for contend.
Definitions

contend

[kuhn-tend] / kənˈtɛnd /
VERB
compete, fight
Synonyms
STRONGEST
argue confront cope dispute go after grapple meet oppose push for resist vie
STRONG
battle clash contest controvert emulate encounter face jostle litigate oppugn push rival skirmish stand strive struggle tug withstand
WEAK
give all one's got give one's all go for go for broke go for it go for jugular have at jockey for position knock oneself out lock horns make play for mix it up with scramble for shoot at shoot for tangle with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree comply go along
STRONG
hide make peace retreat surrender yield
WEAK
abandon cede desert give in give up leave
VERB
claim, assert
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allege assert charge claim defend dispute insist maintain say tell urge
STRONG
affirm aver avow blast cross debate dictate enjoin hold justify mix prescribe report rip vindicate warrant zap
WEAK
come at fly in face of gang up on go at have at have bone to pick jump on lace into lay into let have it light into lock horns with mix it up put up argument set to sock it to one stick it to take on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny desert forget question
STRONG
divide separate unmix
WEAK
abandon cede give in give up leave retreat surrender

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If you watched “Battlestar Galactica,” you’d know that was an actual paranoia human survivors had to contend with.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

The plaintiffs contend that this lawsuit protects pluralism.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Three or more horses could contend for favorite status, but all California horses are long shots entering Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik expects the company to continue to contend with ongoing litigation, including suits over youth access to social media, which have weighed on the stock.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

By 1927 the Cal program had improved to the point that Berkeley could reasonably contend with Washington for West Coast supremacy.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Vocabulary lists containing contend

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5

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