Contends resolutely (9)
I believe the answer is:
struggles
(Another definition for struggles that I've seen is " Makes strenuous efforts in face of difficulties".)
I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free.
Check out my app
or
learn more
about the Crossword Genius project.