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Contend vs Tolerate - What's the difference?

contend | tolerate |

As verbs the difference between contend and tolerate

is that contend is to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight while tolerate is to allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference.

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

    tolerate

    English

    Verb

    (tolerat)
  • To allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference.
  • I like the way he plays the guitar, but I can't tolerate his voice when he sings.
    I can tolerate working on Saturdays, but not on Sundays.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * allow, bear, , endure, live with, put up with