1. (

• contend ,
• postulate

) maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future" ;

2. (

• argue ,
• contend ,
• debate ,
• fence

) have an argument about something ;

3. (

• contest ,
• contend ,
• repugn

) to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation; "They contested the outcome of the race" ;

4. (

• cope ,
• get_by ,
• make_out ,
• make_do ,
• contend ,
• grapple ,
• deal ,
• manage ,

) succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" ;

5. (

• compete ,
• vie ,
• contend

) compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others ;

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" ;