maintain

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verb

Definition of MAINTAIN

1

to keep in good condition <he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby>

Synonyms conserve, keep up, preserve, save

Related Words service; support, sustain; care (for), husband, manage; defend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, shield; cure, fix, heal, remedy; mend, patch, rebuild, reconstruct, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, restore

Near Antonyms disregard, ignore, neglect; break, damage, destroy, harm, hurt, impair, injure, ruin, wreck

2

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections <part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges>

Synonyms defend, justify, support, uphold

Related Words advocate, champion, espouse; confirm, vindicate, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state; argue, debate, discuss; emphasize, stress, underline, underscore

Phrases stand up for, stick up for

Near Antonyms abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute

3

to pay the living expenses of <we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse>

Synonyms keep, maintain, provide (for)

Related Words finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

4

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration <she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes>

Synonyms assert, contend, maintain, plead, reason

Related Words adduce, cite, mention; claim, insist; affirm, aver, avouch, avow; advance, give, offer, propose, submit; advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge; convince, persuade; advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support; explain, justify, rationalize; consider, debate, discuss; confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute

5

to state as a fact usually forcefully <he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors>

Synonyms affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, warrant

Related Words announce, broadcast, proclaim; argue, rationalize, reason; confirm, justify, vindicate; defend, persevere, support, uphold; reaffirm, reassert

Near Antonyms abandon; disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate; challenge, dispute, question; confute, disprove, rebut, refute; contradict, counter

Antonyms deny, gainsay