contend

Verb

• 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
    

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

• come to terms with
  • We got by on just a gallon of gas
    
  • They made do on half a loaf of bread every day
    

• to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
  • They contested the outcome of the race
    

• have an argument about something

• maintain or assert
  • He contended that Communism had no future
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  fight , struggle , compete , vie , cope , get by , make out , make do , grapple , deal , manage , contest , repugn , argue , debate , fence , postulate