ADVOCATE Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'advocate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of advocate are back , champion , support , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: When is it sensible to use 'back' instead of 'advocate'?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

Q: When can 'champion' be used instead of 'advocate'?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When is 'support' a more appropriate choice than 'advocate'?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

Q: Where would 'uphold' be a reasonable alternative to 'advocate'?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

advocate 1 of 2

noun

ˈad-və-kət

Definition of advocate

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause Mark Twain, Noah Webster, and President Theodore Roosevelt are among past advocates of a reformed spelling system

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lawyer

a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations with such a strong case against him, he's going to need the best advocate that money can buy

Synonyms & Similar Words

advocate

2 of 2

verb

ˈad-və-ˌkāt

as in to endorse

to promote the interests or cause of environmentalists advocating agricultural methods designed to slow the destruction of rain forests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word advocate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of advocate are back, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of advocate?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can champion be used instead of advocate?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When is support a more appropriate choice than advocate?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to advocate?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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 advocate

Noun

And while large caseloads, according to disability rights advocates, are not new for the Office for Civil Rights, parents at least used to receive confirmation that their complaint was received and being looked at. — David Edward Dematthews, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 Anyone who wants to watch, from the press to advocates to families to just causal observers, must have that unfettered ability. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

Akter also quoted information from a City Council meeting this year when Sierra advocated for having a female serve on the Pension Commission. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 When Collins successfully advocated for an exemption to the tariffs on Canadian salt and cement, Jackson was dismissive. — Emma Green, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for advocate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for advocate

Noun

For its proponents, a country could not be fully independent while its resources and institutions remained excessively dependent on decisions made elsewhere.

— Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
The committee would reportedly include OMB director and Project 2025 proponent Russell Vought and NIH head Jay Bhattacharya.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Haddon-Cave said an interim report would be published within 18 months (at the end of 2024), but lawyers had accepted publishing in 2028 would be more likely.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026
When the probate judge ruled in the family’s favor, the state brought in a lawyer from Attorney General William Tong’s office to try to overturn the decision.

— Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of lawyer

Verb

Earlier this month, the company endorsed a call to slow down the pace of advanced AI model development in order to better address the technology’s risks.

— Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney,Chris Eudaily, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to fill the seat was Logan Square resident Norma Rios Sierra, 45, who works for the Chicago Park District and is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of endorse

Noun

Nixon embodies that for people, Dunn said, adding that her authenticity also attracts supporters.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Finally, supporters of the industry’s decisions contend that employers and venues have legitimate responsibilities to protect audiences and employees from hate speech, regardless of an entertainer’s race or gender.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

The petition argues that the decision was incorrect because mining hadn’t occurred on the property for years prior to 1976, said the alliance’s attorney, Henry Josefberg.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
If De Soto decides to adopt a new noise ordinance as the city looks to determine whether the current rules adequately addresses industrial noise, Digital Realty would have to adhere to any changes, city attorney Reavey said.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of attorney

Verb

To support his debut as an SNL host, the Knicks starting five, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, were all in attendance.

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
These can be enjoyed with compatible headphones and speakers (like some from Sonos) that support this virtual surround sound technology.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

advisory

advocate

advocated

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“Advocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advocate. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of advocate

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verb

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