Contend — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kən-ˈtend/ con·tend

Meaning & Definition of Contend

Contend (verb)

  1. to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties, struggle
  2. to strive in debate, argue
  3. maintain, assert

Contend (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to engage in a contest

    "two traditional rivals contending for the championship"

    similar: battle, compete, face off, fight, race, rival, vie
    related: challenge, engage, play, jockey, jostle, maneuver, go out, try out, train, work

  2. 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"

    similar: argue, assert, maintain, plead, reason
    related: adduce, cite, mention, claim, insist, affirm, aver, avouch, avow, advance, give, offer, propose, submit, advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge, convince, persuade, advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support, explain, justify, rationalize, consider, debate, discuss, confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute

  3. to state as a fact usually forcefully

    "contended that his opponent was wrong about practically everything"

    similar: affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, warrant, put forth
    related: announce, broadcast, proclaim, argue, rationalize, reason, confirm, justify, vindicate, defend, persevere, support, uphold, reaffirm, reassert
    opposite: deny, gainsay
    near: abandon, disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate, challenge, dispute, question, confute, disprove, rebut, refute, contradict, counter

Related Entry: Contend (with) (verb)

Contend (with) is a different word from Contend. The synonyms below are for contend (with), not for contend.

  1. to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

    "a multitude of problems to contend with as soon as he returned to the office"

    similar: address, cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat, come to grips with, have a grip on
    related: engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to)
    near: botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

  2. to strive to reduce or eliminate

    "medical missionaries who daily contend with disease and poverty"

    similar: battle, combat, counter, fight, oppose, oppugn
    related: baffle, checkmate, foil, frustrate, resist, thwart, withstand, confront, defy, face, meet
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote
    near: abide, bear, endure, suffer, advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contend

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contend:

battle, compete, face off, fight, race, rival, vie, argue, assert, maintain, plead, reason, affirm, allege, aver, avouch, avow, claim, declare, insist, profess, protest, purport, warrant, put forth

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Contend

Words with the opposite meaning of Contend:

deny, gainsay

Related Words for Contend

challenge, engage, play, jockey, jostle, maneuver, go out, try out, train, work, adduce, cite, mention, advance, give, offer, propose, submit, advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge, convince, persuade, advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse

Near Antonyms of Contend

abandon, disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate, challenge, dispute, question, confute, disprove, rebut, refute, contradict, counter

Word Forms of Contend

Inflections: contended, contending, contends

Origin & Etymology of Contend

Middle English contenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contendre, going back to Latin contendere "to draw tight, strain, make an effort, strive, compete," from con- con- + tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out, aim (at a purpose)" tender:3

First known use: 15th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contend

Words & Phrases Containing Contend

contend with, a lot to contend with

Frequently Asked Questions about Contend

What does "Contend" mean?

"Contend" means to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties, struggle. As a verb, it is defined as: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties, struggle. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contend"?

Other words for "Contend" include battle, compete, face off, fight, race, rival, vie and argue. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contend" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contend"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contend". Common alternatives include battle, compete, face off, fight, race, rival, vie, argue, assert and maintain.

What is the opposite of "Contend"?

Antonyms of "Contend" include deny and gainsay. Near antonyms include abandon, disavow, disclaim and disown.

How do you use "Contend" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contend" in a sentence: "two traditional rivals contending for the championship"; "contended that the senator's considerable experience made him the best candidate"; "contended that his opponent was wrong about practically everything".

Is "Contend" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contend" is a verb.

Is "Contend" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Contend" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Contend"?

"Contend" is pronounced /kən-ˈtend/ and divided into syllables as con·tend.