1
as in competing
to engage in a contest
two traditional rivals contending for the championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in arguing
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 alleging
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 contending
Talma, a 6-foot, 175-pounder has track speed and is part of the Hornets state-championship contending 400-meter relay team.
—
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The intimate High Tea will feature a forum-style discussion with Emmy-contending female directors whose creative vision is shaping the current and future TV landscape.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Their current, championship-contending rotation includes late second-round draft picks Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, each of whom proved their NBA abilities playing heavy minutes in mostly losing efforts.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Veterans and a historian have filed a federal lawsuit contending the structure would block historic sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery across the river.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Several years ago, the Blue Jackets traded a player to a contending team near the NHL trade deadline.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The jury heard lawyers describe a fatal confrontation, with prosecutors saying the defendants attacked and killed Ascaridis, and defense attorneys contending that Ascaridis was the aggressor.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Agarwal has made many of the same arguments that Khanna did a decade ago in pursuit of Honda’s seat, contending that the current representative was out of touch with the needs of the district.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand flared twice last year over contending claims to territory along their shared border.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The intimate High Tea will feature a forum-style discussion with Emmy-contending female directors whose creative vision is shaping the current and future TV landscape.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Their current, championship-contending rotation includes late second-round draft picks Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, each of whom proved their NBA abilities playing heavy minutes in mostly losing efforts.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Veterans and a historian have filed a federal lawsuit contending the structure would block historic sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery across the river.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Several years ago, the Blue Jackets traded a player to a contending team near the NHL trade deadline.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The jury heard lawyers describe a fatal confrontation, with prosecutors saying the defendants attacked and killed Ascaridis, and defense attorneys contending that Ascaridis was the aggressor.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Agarwal has made many of the same arguments that Khanna did a decade ago in pursuit of Honda’s seat, contending that the current representative was out of touch with the needs of the district.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contending
Verb
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But after years of competing for a full gambling license, the operation has all the hallmarks of a Las Vegas-style casino.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The storytelling is wonky, given the film’s competing needs to be Miranda-blunt about the modern magazine business while pairing marvelously with a glass of rosé.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video obtained by The News shows the victim arguing with the dog owner when a woman in red storms up and starts swinging.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The West Texas project recently received the largest air pollution permit ever granted in the US, while Musk’s Memphis project has faced multiple lawsuits arguing the gas turbines are worsening air quality in historically Black communities.—
Mark Chediak,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the letter, Carvajal says as much, alleging that Maduro had aimed to use drugs as a weapon against the United States.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Moscow denied targeting the plant, alleging Kyiv staged the attack.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The company is working to improve safety and reasoning through benchmarks that guide how robots should behave in real-world scenarios.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
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But Dai stressed that the company was less focused on creating media and more interested in reasoning capabilities.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Joseph Heller’s novel, claiming to be crazy is taken as evidence of sanity.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Scammers call older people, falsely claiming the victim’s bank account, Social Security number or other personal information has been compromised, Sorrells said.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In December 2023, Maduro held a controversial referendum that claimed 98 percent public support for asserting sovereignty over the region — a vote widely criticized for alleged fraud and lack of transparency.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Lees’ acquisitions mark an impressive feat, both in terms of reclaiming national heritage and asserting personal piety.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The president rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for easing restrictions, insisting that larger concerns must be addressed first.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
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Hegseth largely declined to provide specifics, instead denouncing critics as defeatists, questioning their patriotism and insisting the mission had broad public support.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Logue was released after pleading not guilty at his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In mid-March, Carie Hallford was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, after pleading guilty in August.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contending. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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