STANDBY Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

stand by 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stand by

as in to keep (to)

to give steadfast support to no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

standby

2 of 2

noun

ˈstan(d)-ˌbī

as in anchor

something or someone to which one looks for support our old standby in times of trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of stand by

Verb

When Cyrus flipped her Disney Channel image on its head during her late-teen years, generating tabloid headlines over drug use and scandalous performances, Parton publicly stood by her. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 That's because no one is willing to put their name on it and stand by it. — CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Noun

Mandarin Orange Chicken This chicken is an old standby that’s voted a customer favorite by TJ’s year after year. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026 Colors like the perfectly balanced red Ruby Woo, deep beige Velvet Teddy and bright orchid Heroine are beauty-industry standbys, and the brand offers more than 150 lipstick shades in total. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand by

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand by

Verb

But as a rookie, Wilson doesn’t plan to abide by that hierarchy.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Courts still must abide by their precedents and these three legal pillars if a lawsuit hits their dockets.

— O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 22 June 2026

Definition of abide by

Noun

Privacy seekers can cast their anchor further afield at Coral Caye, Turtle Inn’s private island that’s a 20-minute boat ride away, with wooden cottages and a brimming reef.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Creating space for contrary evidence before authority anchors the room can widen what the group considers.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of anchor

Verb

Reese, Naz Hilman and Madina Okot were held to 28 points combined with Okot scoring 16 – mostly in the fourth quarter.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
After scoring 14 runs to begin this four-game series, the Royals have been held to just five runs in their last 18 innings.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Definition of hold to

Noun

Ukraine repeatedly has targeted oil facilities that form the backbone of Russia’s economy, one of the world’s largest energy producers.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Building the nuclear backbone One focus will be NANO Nuclear’s HALEU transportation systems.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of backbone

Verb

The Bills believe in Bernard and have described his 2025 season as an injury that derailed his entire year, though there were some run-defending holes in his game before last season.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The last episode ended with Heather sloppily approaching Lisa while Lisa’s Ultimate Girls Trip buddies hovered on the sidelines, ready to defend their new friend.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of defend

Noun

The former Democratic speaker was the longtime villain, a mainstay in ads as Republicans linked Democratic candidates to her to paint them as radical and out of touch.

— James A. Downs, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2026
The property partners with neighborhood favorites to offer premium lifestyle perks, including complimentary guest passes to the nearby Brooklyn Athletic Club, and exclusive discounts at local mainstays like SoulCycle and COS Williamsburg.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of mainstay

Noun

That growing reliance on patient portals caught the attention of Mary M.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Networks such as Island and Archipelago electronically matched buy and sell orders, speeding up execution and reducing reliance on traditional market makers and other intermediaries.

— Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of reliance

Noun

Footwear is a key part of the strategy within several pillars outlined by Joseph Alkire, Kontoor’s president and chief financial officer.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Sports remains the third pillar of the country strategy, according to Oishi, who cites Prime Video’s existing rights to MLB, NBA and live boxing coverage in Japan.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of pillar

Browse Nearby Words

standards

stand by

standby

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stand by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20by. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of stand by

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

magnanimous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes