verb have an argument about something.
— synonyms: argue, debate, fence
verb to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation.
— synonyms: contest, repugn
verb succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available.
— synonyms: cope, get_by, make_out, make_do, grapple, deal, manage
verb compete for something.
— synonyms: compete, vie
verb be engaged in a fight.
— synonyms: fight, struggle
Examples
“In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.”