contend
Other forms: contended; contending; contends
To defend a belief or keep affirming that it's true is to contend. People used to contend that the earth was flat, but eventually, when no one dropped off the edge no matter how far they traveled, the "round" theory won.
One of the meanings of contend is from the French "to strive with," and it is a literal fighting, as in "to contend with fists." Most contemporary uses of the verb contend illustrate competitions of proof or defense, where a person will contend that something is true, or better, or wrong. It is still a striving but more of a verbal kind, where what you contend is what you hope to convince others is correct.
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compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against otherstypes:playparticipate in games or sportrun offdecide (a contest or competition) by a runoffrivalbe the rival of, be in competition withemulatecompete with successfully; approach or reach equality withline uptake one's position before a kick-offcurlplay the Scottish game of curlingsnookerleave one's opponent unable to take a direct shotrevokefail to follow suit when able and required to do sodevelopmove into a strategically more advantageous positiondevelopmove one's pieces into strategically more advantageous positionsdieto be on base at the end of an inning, of a playermisplayplay wrong or in an unskillful mannerstartplay in the starting lineupfumbledrop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a groundervolleymake a volleyunblockplay the cards of (a suit) so that the last trick on which a hand can follow suit will be taken by a higher card in the hand of a partner who has the remaining cards of a combined holdingreplayplay againcricketplay cricketbackstopact as a backstopfullbackplay the fullbackquarterbackplay the quarterbackcradlecontrol a puck or ball by moving a stick, as in hockey or lacrosseexitlose the leadplay outplay to a finishfieldplay as a fieldercatchbe the catchertee offstrike a ball from the teeing ground at the start of a holeaceplay (a hole) in one strokeshowfinish third or better in a horse or dog raceplacefinish second or better in a horse or dog raceboat-raceparticipate in a boat racehorse-racecompete in a horse racegambleplay games for moneywalkgive a base on balls tobowlengage in the sport of bowlinggolfplay golfbandytoss or strike a ball back and forthfoulcommit a foul; break the rulesput outretirecroquetplay a game in which players hit a wooden ball through a series of hoopsputthit a puttspeed skaterace on skates
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be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight“Militant groups are contending for control of the country”types:bear downexert full strengthfistfightfight with the fistsjoin battleengage in a conflicttugstruggle in oppositionfight backdefend oneselfwarmake or wage warduelfight a duel, as over one's honor or a womanjoustjoust against somebody in a tournament by fighting on horsebacktourneyengage in a tourneyfeudcarry out a feudskirmishengage in a skirmishbandyexchange blowsfencefight with sword-like foilsboxengage in a boxing matchsparfight with spurswrestleengage in a wrestling matchrecalcitrateshow strong objection or repugnance; manifest vigorous opposition or resistance; be obstinately disobedientdogfightengage in an aerial battle with another fighter planewrestlecombat to overcome an opposing tendency or forceblitzkriegfight a quick and surprising warsubmarineattack by submarinetiltcharge with a tiltgasattack with gas; subject to gas fumesblitzattack suddenly and without warninginvade, occupymarch aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupationstrafeattack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying planecannonadeattack with cannons or artillerytorpedoattack or hit with torpedoessparbox lightlyprizefightbox for a prize or moneyshadowboxgo through boxing motions without an opponent
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have an argument about something
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make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
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maintain or assert
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come to terms withtypes:fendtry to manage without helprub along, scrape along, scrape by, scratch along, squeak by, squeeze bymanage one's existence barely
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Vocabulary lists containing contend
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