contend

IPA: kʌntˈɛnd

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

Examples of "contend" in Sentences

Sources at the label contend that Apple's submission was a work-in-progress, not a completed recording.
Among those too far back to contend is Padraig Harrington, whose hopes of a third straight claret jug ended with a 76.
The rest, I contend, is the easy part, although I am sure that those who consider themselves “winemakers” might object to that conclusion.
THE GOOD NEWS: The Vols should again contend for an SEC title and have a good chance to make a deep NCAA Tournament run next year with a nice nucleus and a solid recruiting class.
The Huskies spent the spring looking to solidify its rotation and figure out how much depth it had at key positions, and it heads into the summer months optimistic that it will again contend in the Big East.
Despite all of the external pressures, the clampdown on dissent, while not as black and white as right-wing US politicians and newspaper editorialists contend, is neither necessary nor defensible to protect the gains of the revolution.
(Soundbite of protest) SCHAPER: After the searches, hundreds of anti-war activists protested outside of FBI headquarters in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities to denounce what they contend is an effort to squash free speech against U.S. policy.