表示“有很多（困难/挑战/麻烦事）要应对/处理”，强调面临的问题较多、压力较大，需花费精力去“对付”或“解决”。
contend with 是核心动词短语，意为“与…抗争；应对（难题）”（to deal with a difficult situation or problem）；
much 此处作代词，指代“需要应对的诸多事物”（many difficult things）；
整体结构：主语 + have much to contend with → 主语“有很多（麻烦）要应对”。
该短语的主语通常是人、组织或群体，侧重描述其“面临的压力或待解决的问题”。后面常通过介词短语、定语从句等补充具体内容，说明“具体要应对什么”。
例：
She has much to contend with since her husband lost his job.（自从丈夫失业后，她有很多事要扛。）
The small business has much to contend with in this tough economy.（在当前艰难的经济环境下，这家小企业有很多困难要应对。）
例：
The new teacher has much to contend with — noisy students, outdated textbooks, and a lack of resources.（这位新老师要应对很多问题——吵闹的学生、过时的课本，还有资源匮乏。）
As a single parent, he has much to contend with like balancing work and childcare.（作为单亲家长，他要应对很多事，比如平衡工作和育儿。）
The team has much to contend with including injuries to key players and a busy schedule.（这支球队要应对很多挑战，包括核心球员受伤和密集的赛程。）
生活：I have much to contend with right now—my sick mom, exams, and part-time work.（我现在有很多事要处理——生病的妈妈、考试，还有兼职。）
工作：The project manager has much to contend with before the deadline.（项目经理在截止日期前有很多事要应对。）
have a lot to deal with：更中性，侧重“有很多事要处理”（可指好坏事）；
have much to contend with：更强调“应对困难/挑战”（隐含“事情棘手”）。
总结：这个短语是表达“面临诸多难题”的地道说法，适用于描述压力大、需全力应对的场景。