contend - verb

• maintain or assert
• have an argument about something
• to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
• come to terms with
• compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
• be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

contend - thesaurus

argue   compete   contest   cope   deal   debate   fence   fight   grapple   manage   postulate   repugn   struggle   vie