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contend

/kənˈtɛnd/verb2 syllables

Contend means: succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available.

Synonyms for contend26

verb, as in succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

cope, get by, make out, make do, grapple, deal, manage

verb, as in have an argument about something

verb, as in to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation

contest, repugn

verb, as in compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

compete, vie

verb, as in be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

verb, as in maintain or assert

postulate

also used for contend

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does contend mean?6

verb

1

succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available“We got by on just a gallon of gas”

2

have an argument about something

3

to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation“They contested the outcome of the race”

4

compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

5

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight“the tribesmen fought each other”

6

maintain or assert“He contended that Communism had no future”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with contend?28

Show 40 near rhymes

Contend in a sentence

  • Besides those serious problems, he had to contend with all sorts of people.unknown
  • In kendo, two people, each equipped with a bamboo sword, contend with each other.AlanF_US
  • Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain.Ooneykcall
  • He has to contend with many difficulties in his new job.IMer
  • He contends that nuclear weapons are necessary for national defense.CM
  • The scientist contends that the theory is flawed.IMer
  • The flyweight champion contended with a strong challenger.AlanF_US
  • The customer contended that she had been cheated.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of contend

as a verb

past tense
contended
present participle
contending
third-person singular
contends
past participle
contended