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con·tend
 contend
- pronunciation:
- k
 n
tend
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
contended, contending, contends |
| definition 1: |
to strive against difficulties or opposition.
The ship contended with the high waves until, finally, it capsized.The prime minister is having to contend with criticism from his own party.- synonyms:
- fight, grapple, strive, struggle, wrestle
- similar words:
- battle, combat, compete, cope, deal
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| definition 2: |
to strive in competition or rivalry.
They are one of several teams contending for the championship.- synonyms:
- compete, contest, vie
- similar words:
- battle, duel, fight, jostle, joust, strive, war
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| definition 3: |
to strive in argument; dispute; debate.
They angrily contended about which plan was best.- synonyms:
- altercate, argue, debate, disagree, dispute
- antonyms:
- concur
- similar words:
- clash, combat, compete, feud, fight, quarrel, spar, spat, squabble, wrangle
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| related words: |
argue, bicker, buffet, deal, defend, discord, grapple, oppose, protest, remonstrate, skirmish, tug |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition: |
to assert in argument; state forcefully.
I contend that humanity is basically good.- synonyms:
- argue, assert, avow, claim, maintain
- similar words:
- affirm, allege, asseverate, aver, contest, debate, declare, insist, profess, pronounce, propound, protest, state
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| related words: |
deny, object, plead, purport, remonstrate, submit |
| derivation: |
contendingly (adv.) |
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