Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb contend

6 senses of contend

Sense 1
contend, postulate -- (maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future")
       => claim -- (assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing; "He claimed that he killed the burglar")

Sense 2
argue, contend, debate, fence -- (have an argument about something)
       => converse, discourse -- (carry on a conversation)

Sense 3
contest, contend, repugn -- (to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation; "They contested the outcome of the race")
       => oppose -- (be against; express opposition to; "We oppose the ban on abortion")

Sense 4
cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage -- (come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day")
       => act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")

Sense 5
compete, vie, contend -- (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Sense 6
contend, fight, struggle -- (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country")