THESAURUS
Reluct
antagonize, arise, battle, beat against, beat up against, breast the wave, buck, buffet, buffet the waves, challenge, close with, combat, compete with, complain, complain loudly, confront, contend against, contend with, contest, dispute, dissent, face down, face out, face up to, fight, fight against, front, grapple with, insurge, insurrect, join battle with, kick against, labor against, make a stand, meet head-on, militate against, mount the barricades, mutineer, mutiny, nauseate, object, offer resistance, oppose, overthrow, protest, rebel, recalcitrate, reluctate, remonstrate, repel, repulse, revolt, revolute, revolution, revolutionize, riot, rise, rise up, rival, run riot, show fight, sicken, stand, stand at bay, stand up against, stand up to, stem the tide, strike, strive against, struggle against, subvert, take on, vie with, withstand
ROGET THESAURUS
Reluct
Resistance
VB
resist, not submit, repugn, reluct, reluctate, withstand, stand up against, strive against, bear up under, bear up against, be proof against, make head against, stand, stand firm, stand one's ground, stand the brunt of, stand out, hold one's grounds, hold one's own, hold out, hold firm, breast the wave, breast the current, stem the tide, stem the torrent, face, confront, grapple with, show a bold front, present a front, make a stand, take one's stand, kick, kick against, recalcitrate, kick against the pricks, oppose, fly in the face of, lift the hand against, rise up in arms, strike, turn out, draw up a round robin, revolt, make a riot, prendre le mors aux dents, take the bit between the teeth, sell one's life dearly, die hard, keep at bay, repel, repulse.
Contention
VB
contend, contest, strive, struggle, scramble, wrestle, spar, square, exchange blows, exchange fisticuffs, fib, justle, tussle, tilt, box, stave, fence, skirmish, pickeer, fight, wrangle, contend with, grapple with, engage with, close with, buckle with, bandy with, try conclusions with, have a brush, with, tilt with, encounter, fall foul of, pitch into, clapperclaw, run a tilt at, oppose, reluct, join issue, come to blows, go to loggerheads, set to, come to the scratch, exchange shots, measure swords, meet hand to hand, take up the cudgels, take up the glove, take up the gauntlet, enter the lists, couch one's lance, give satisfaction, appeal to arms, lay about one, break the peace, compete with, cope with, vie with, race with, outvie, emulate, rival, run a race, contend for, stipulate for, stickle for, insist upon, make a point of.