1
2
as in argues
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 alleges
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 contends
Alpha-gal was more of a private enterprise, another rumor contends.
—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Uber contends this arrangement has created an incentive for doctors and attorneys to collude to dramatically inflate medical bills.
—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The report contends that recent federal policy has compounded those challenges.
—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The report generally contends that a single-payer system would, by eliminating the paperwork and other aspects of the current system, be the most efficient from a cost/benefit basis.
—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic's legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic’s legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic's legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
Spalding contends that the container manufacturers sold equipment at inflated prices to leasing companies, ocean carriers and logistics providers, which then incorporated those costs into lease rates, freight charges and transportation fees.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Uber contends this arrangement has created an incentive for doctors and attorneys to collude to dramatically inflate medical bills.
—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The report contends that recent federal policy has compounded those challenges.
—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The report generally contends that a single-payer system would, by eliminating the paperwork and other aspects of the current system, be the most efficient from a cost/benefit basis.
—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic's legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic’s legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
The agency contends such a sale would violate RMS Titanic's legal obligations to the site, according to documents a judge ordered unsealed earlier this month.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
Spalding contends that the container manufacturers sold equipment at inflated prices to leasing companies, ocean carriers and logistics providers, which then incorporated those costs into lease rates, freight charges and transportation fees.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contends
Verb
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According to Reuters, Gakpo was given time off to spend with his family, who are staying near the team base in Kansas City as the Netherlands competes in the World Cup.
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With a 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame, Palmquest also competes in shot put and threw 46 1/2 feet as a sophomore, taking first in Aledo’s district meet.
Verb
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Trump argues the ballroom is necessary for security reasons, and amplified that assertion after the attack on the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April.
-
The article argues that while compromise may offer short-term gains, steadfast adherence to one's beliefs builds lasting trust and reputational capital.
Verb
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Yet park rangers continued to cite Hubbard under that section, issuing two misdemeanor citations in May 2025, as well as a third that cited a different section of the ordinance, the most recent lawsuit alleges.
-
The charge alleges a person knowingly defrauded another by using false or misleading information to obtain money, property, credit or a loan.
Verb
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Wizman asserts that competitors vastly overprice eyewear, claiming a $1 production cost for items sold for hundreds.
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But Mike Mulvihill, president of insights and analytics for Fox Sports, asserts that the viewers have been there all along.
Verb
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Now the glowing screen sits in each person’s hand, and every feed insists that its user is seeing something different.
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Lasdun, by contrast, insists on delivering a meticulous retelling of the Murdaugh case, complete with byzantine subplots involving the suspicious death of the family’s housekeeper and the murder of another local teenager.
Verb
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Now a controversial study claims that working from home worsened mental health.
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The video claims to show a FAB-500 aerial glide bomb destroying a UAV command post near Novopavlovka and a temporary deployment area in the Kherson region.
Cite this Entry
“Contends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contends. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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