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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.

Although the scientific consensus is that mRNA is a safe, highly effective platform for vaccines and therapeutics, critics contend that its initial regulatory approval was fast-tracked and warrants further investigation.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Other women in the workforce have to contend with the motherhood penalty, but moms-to-be making a living on social media can rake in cash with sponsorships that continue well past their due dates.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

A devoted husband and father, he was forced to contend with the sorrows of life when he and his wife, Isabel, lost two little children to illness; they went on to rear four more.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Over the last decade, videogame retailer and original meme stock GameStop has struggled to contend with the dominance of online gaming, and its sales have declined.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

“We couldn’t hurt living creatures, that’s quite true. But Asriel’s army is going to contend with other kinds of being as well.”

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

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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