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Contend vs Expostulate - What's the difference?

contend | expostulate | Related terms |

Contend is a related term of expostulate.


As verbs the difference between contend and expostulate

is that contend is to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight while expostulate is to protest or remonstrate; to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of conduct.

contend

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(en verb)
  • to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy ii. 9
    • The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
  • * Shakespeare
    • For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.
  • to struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
  • * Dryden
    • You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.
  • to strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
  • * John Locke
    • The question which our author would contend for.
  • * Dr H. More
    • Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.

    Synonyms

    * struggle, fight, combat, vie, strive, oppose, emulate, contest, litigate, dispute, debate

    Related terms

    * contender * contention * contentious

    External links

    * *

    expostulate

    English

    Verb

    (expostulat)
  • To protest or remonstrate; to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of conduct.
  • * Jowett
    • Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong.
  • * 1719,
    • The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should thus completely ruin His creatures, and render them so absolutely miserable; so without help, abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.
  • * 1843 , '', book 2, ch. XI, ''The Abbot’s Ways
    • […] he affectionately loved many persons to whom he never or hardly ever shewed a countenance of love. Once on my venturing to expostulate with him on the subject, he reminded me of Solomon: “Many sons I have; it is not fit that I should smile on them.”

    Synonyms

    * challenge * demur * except * inveigh * kick * object * protest * remonstrate * squawk ----