1
as in addresses
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
a multitude of problems to contend with as soon as he returned to the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposes
to strive to reduce or eliminate
medical missionaries who daily contend with disease and poverty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contends (with)
Verb
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According to Taylor, the best mask is the one that addresses what your hair actually needs at that moment.—
Lily Wohlner, Allure, 11 Jan. 2026
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Safety through advanced technology Safety remains the primary concern for any personal aircraft, and Plaut addresses this through extreme hardware redundancy.—
Verb
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Roarke LaCoursiere, with the Indiana Catholic Conference, said the organization opposes the bill because while its members stand with the victims and their families, the death penalty doesn’t bring about justice.—
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The governor rightly opposes raising nation-leading personal income taxes but may be cracking open the door to raising business or other taxes to respond to federal cuts.—
Verb
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Designed to keep you warm and cozy during cold temperatures, this fuzzy shearling layer manages to stay stylish with the help of a polished trim and chic gold buttons.—
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Chef David Richter cooks with confidence and restraint (his mole is the real deal); co-owner Jessica Richter manages the dining room.—
Verb
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Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.—
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Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.—
Verb
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Eric handles the role of the older Simms, while Finn plays the character in flashback scenes — including a jarring opening sequence of him in action.—
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Kaufmann was first elected to the Iowa House in 2012 and previously served as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax policy.—
Verb
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The Last Gift Study, launched in 2017, combats that issue by conducting an autopsy immediately after a patient’s death.—
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Fit was prioritized on the upper, which combats wrinkles at the toe box and hosts a better lacing system and a new heel sling.—
Verb
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An onboard synthesizer manipulates a small set of core sounds to mimic everything from the roar of a jet plane to the flushing of a toilet through a little speaker in the Brick.—
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Vecna psychically finds Hopper (David Harbour) and manipulates him to break the tank, cutting off the psychic link for her, Kali, and Max.—
Verb
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Holding Liat is the rare film that counters polarization by reaching the hearts of viewers regardless of their sympathies toward Israel or Palestine.—
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Jesse Plemons leans into unhinged intensity, while Emma Stone counters with calculated control.—
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Cite this Entry
“Contends (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contends%20%28with%29. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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