contend
v.v. to deal with a difficult situation or person. It can also mean to argue that something is true.
v. to struggle to surmount a difficulty or danger; to assert a position in an argument. Often used to describe managing multiple competing pressures or obstacles.
The team had to contend with heavy rain during the match.
Small businesses must contend with rising energy costs and a shortage of skilled workers this year.
While some critics contend that the policy is a failure, the administration points to improved employment figures as evidence of its long-term success.
From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere (“to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend”), from com- (“together”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.
When meaning 'to deal with', it is intransitive and requires the preposition 'with'. When meaning 'to argue', it is transitive and often takes a 'that' clause.
They must contend the difficult weatherThey must contend with the difficult weatherWhen used to mean 'dealing with a problem', the verb requires the preposition 'with'.