Phrasal verbs "contend with" vs "deal with"

Differences between contend with and deal with

Contend with means to struggle or compete against something, while deal with means to handle or manage a situation or problem.

Meanings and Definitions: contend with vs deal with

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Contend with

• 1. Deal with or struggle against.

  I’ve got quite enough to contend with bringing up three kids.

• 2. To deal with or face a difficult situation or problem.

  They had to contend with winds of over 40 miles an hour.

Deal with

• 1. Handle or take care of.

  I spent the morning dealing with my emails.

• 2. Handle or address a problem or situation.

  The government must now deal with the problem of high unemployment.

Usage Examples: contend with, deal with in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

contend with

Example

She has to contend with a lot of stress at work.

Example

He contends with many challenges in his daily life.

deal with

Example

She needs to deal with her financial issues.

Example

He deals with customer complaints every day.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Contend with

struggle with

To face difficulties or challenges in dealing with a situation or problem.

Example

She had to struggle with her fear of public speaking before giving the presentation.

compete against

To strive to be better or more successful than someone or something else.

Example

The company had to compete against other businesses to win the contract.

grapple with

To try to understand or deal with a difficult or complex issue.

Example

He had to grapple with the ethical implications of the new technology before deciding to invest in it.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Deal with

handle

To manage or take care of a situation or problem.

Example

She had to handle the customer complaints before they escalated into bigger issues.

address

To give attention to or take action on a particular issue or problem.

Example

The government needs to address the rising unemployment rate in the country.

tackle

To confront or deal with a difficult or challenging task or problem.

Example

He decided to tackle the messy garage over the weekend and organize everything.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “deal”

• deal in

Phrasal Verbs with “with”

• run with
• mess with
• lie with
• charge with
• do with

Differences in contend with vs deal with: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: contend with or deal with?

Both contend with and deal with are commonly used in everyday conversation. However, deal with is more frequently used than contend with because it can be used in a wider range of situations.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of contend with and deal with

Both contend with and deal with are relatively formal phrases and can be used in professional or academic settings. However, deal with is slightly more informal and can be used in casual conversations as well.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of contend with and deal with

The tone of contend with is often negative or challenging, while deal with is more neutral and practical.

contend with & deal with: Synonyms and Antonyms

Contend with

Synonyms

• face
• tackle
• confront
• manage
• battle
• deal with
• handle
• cope with
• grapple with
• struggle against

Antonyms

• avoid
• ignore
• neglect
• shirk
• dodge
• evade
• sidestep

Deal with

Synonyms

• manage
• address
• tackle
• confront
• face
• resolve
• handle
• attend to
• take care of
• cope with

Antonyms

• ignore
• avoid
• neglect
• overlook
• dismiss
• postpone
• evade
• sidestep