1. (v. i.) To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

2. (v. i.) To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

3. (v. i.) To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

4. (v. t.) To struggle for; to contest.

affirm agonize allege announce annunciate antagonize argue argufy assert assever asseverate aver avouch avow bandy words battle beat against beat up against bicker bicker over box brawl breast the wave broil brook no denial buck buffet buffet the waves bump heads cavil charge choplogic claim clash close close with collide combat come to blows compete with confront contend about contend against contest contrapose contraposit contrast cope with counteract cross swords cut and thrust declare defend dictate discept dispute duel encounter enjoin enunciate exchange blows express face fence feud fight fight a duel fight against fight over front give and take give satisfaction grapple grapple with grunt and sweat hassle have have it out hold huff and puff insist insist on insist upon issue a manifesto join battle with join issue jostle joust justify labor against lay down lie opposite lock horns logomachize maintain manifesto match meet meet head-on militate against mix it up moot offer resistance oppose oppugn persist pettifog plead polarize polemicize polemize pose against predicate prescribe press proclaim profess pronounce protest put put in opposition put it quarrel quarrel over quibble rassle reluct reluctate report resist riot rival run a tilt say scramble scuffle set down set over against skirmish spar speak speak out speak up squabble over stand stand for stand on stand opposed stand opposite state stem the tide stick to strive strive against struggle struggle against submit subtend take issue with take no denial take on take sides tell thrash out thrust and parry tilt tourney try conclusions tug tussle urge vie vie with vindicate wage war war warrant withstand wrangle wrangle over wrestle