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

The 2017 legislation also set a goal reaching 90% adequacy statewide by 2027 — a target many advocates even then viewed as improbable, if not impossible. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Anti-vaping advocates have said that e-cigarettes in kid-friendly flavors have increased in use among youth and young adults. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

In her first public message after returning to the United States following the prisoner exchange, Griner thanked her wife and the many others who had advocated for her release. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 31 July 2026 When advocating for the amendment, BJP officials – including India’s social justice and empowerment minister, Virendra Kumar – cited concerns about potential misuse of welfare programs. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for advocate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for advocate

Noun

The bill’s legislative proponents argue the measure is a win for taxpayers, citing reductions in the cost of homeownership while maintaining funding for schools and other essential services.

— Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Those lawmakers pressed legislative leaders to revisit that exemption this year, and SB-954 is the resulting compromise, its proponents say.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of proponent

Verb

Cornyn, who lost reelection this year after Trump endorsed his primary opponent, and Tillis, who is retiring when his term ends in January, have blocked Blanche’s nomination as many of their GOP colleagues have criticized the fund.

— Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Trump vowed to endorse candidates in the May primary running against Republican senators who voted against redistricting.

— Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of endorse

Noun

Freezing dormant coins, supporters argue, beats letting a future quantum thief drain them and dump them on the market.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
After spending last summer in the heat of Hong Kong and South Korea, where the Tottenham supporter base is large and fervent, opting for Australia and New Zealand offered a welcome change of pace.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

The governor now picks one of three finalists named by a nominating commission controlled by attorneys.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
The county attorney presented a plan to sue several big pharma companies for the deceptive marketing practices that triggered the opioid epidemic, following the pattern established by lawsuits filed against tobacco companies starting in the 1990s.

— Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of attorney

Verb

Stefan Rittner, senior portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors, said markets were more likely to accept measures that improve productivity, labor supply and long-term growth than spending aimed mainly at supporting consumption.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Reuters — Japan’s government is portraying its accelerating military buildup not only as a way to protect the country but as a route to greater prosperity, arguing in ‌its latest defence white paper that arms production can support economic growth.

— Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of advocate

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