contend

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
2. (intransitive) To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
3. (intransitive) To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
4. (intransitive) To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
5. To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.

Synonyms

compete

fight

struggle

vie

dispute

contest

argue

strive

maintain

battle

debate

combat

claim

assert

quarrel

rival

wrestle

allege

fence

postulate

make out

get by

grapple

profess

repugn

conflict

challenge

aver

war

grab

seize

declare

purport

race

usurp

deal

oppose

plead

cope

manage

make do

bicker

bandy

collide

clash

avow

antagonize

charge

avouch

get along

Translations

contender

αγωνίζομαι

competir

kämpfen

competir

streiten

lutar

brigar

combattre

lutter

competir

rivaliser

kampen

wetteifern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kənˈtɛnd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: contenden

In summary

From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere (“to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend”), from com- (“together”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.