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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of contend
Advertisement In a federal lawsuit filed on New Year’s Eve in the Eastern District of California, the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Restaurant Assn. contend that the law violates companies’ rights to free speech and equal protection under the 1st and 14th amendments.
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Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Those of the far-right MAGA base contend the visa program is used to undercut American workers.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025
With Rodgers returning from his injury, the Jets were favorites to win the AFC East and to contend for a Super Bowl.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2025
The 15-count complaint contends that Teeter should not have released the police dog into the vehicle Alexander-Garcia was allegedly trying to steal and should not have pursued him on foot or jumped into the car.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contend 
Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Those of the far-right MAGA base contend the visa program is used to undercut American workers.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025
With Rodgers returning from his injury, the Jets were favorites to win the AFC East and to contend for a Super Bowl.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2025
The 15-count complaint contends that Teeter should not have released the police dog into the vehicle Alexander-Garcia was allegedly trying to steal and should not have pursued him on foot or jumped into the car.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contend
Verb
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Messi will also compete for other domestic cups and hopefully steer clear of injuries like those that hampered him at stages last year.Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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The winners will then go through to compete in UEFA’s third-tier competition the following season.Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Fubo sued shortly after the announcement, arguing that Venu violated antitrust rules.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2025
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TikTok fought in court, arguing the ban infringes on the company’s First Amendment rights, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied its petition to review the law and upheld the ban in December.Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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China has repeatedly insisted that its ability to influence the business is limited to operations outside the U.S. but the Chinese government would have to approve of any sale.Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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Sources close to Butler insist that one of his biggest issues with the Heat has become his role in the offense this season.Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That line of reasoning hinges on Homan’s recent request that sanctuary cities like Chicago work with the Trump administration on targeting criminals without proper immigration documentation.Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
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Because South Florida is built on layers of sand and porous limestone, the authors reasoned that these vibrations could have compressed or rearranged sand – much like shaking ground coffee in a tin creates more space.Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Bondi served as an adviser on Trump's 2020 campaign, helping file a string of unsuccessful lawsuits alleging voter fraud and pushing to delegitimize vote counting in Pennsylvania.Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
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The settlements included a $7.5 million deal to settle the first of more than 150 federal lawsuits alleging phony arrest by corrupt ex-police Sgt.Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump, Nauta and De Oliveira also pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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But Fielder pleaded guilty in December, effectively taking a death sentence off the table.Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The very next day, Johnson was claimed by the New York Jets and spent three years there.Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
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The group claims sole possession of the third-most No. 1s in the chart’s history, after sitting in a three-way tie for the mark.Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and denies any wrongdoing, and continues to falsely assert there was widespread election fraud in 2020, which there is no evidence to support.Alison Durkee, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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Vivier says modern rhinos can live and reproduce just fine without horns, which are used primarily by bulls to assert their dominance.Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near contend
Cite this Entry
“Contend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contend. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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