BACK Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of back are advocate , champion , support , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

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

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: Where would 'champion' be a reasonable alternative to 'back'?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When might 'support' be a better fit than 'back'?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

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

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

back 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of back next

as in ago

earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hence

as in around

toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in backwards

toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

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back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak

as in rear

a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jugular

a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

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back

3 of 4

verb

as in to advocate

to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to aid

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reinforce

to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind

being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Examples of back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Tom Brady has been approved to join the NFL’s ownership ranks, one of the final steps in an investment into the Las Vegas Raiders that stretches back more than two years. —

Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024 Remote workers may struggle to express themselves or think their voice is overlooked back at HQ. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

Noun

Cleanup should be a breeze thanks to the slot at the back where the grease can pour out into a cup or container. —

Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2024 And just about every starter — Wright, Wynne and Smith included — had 2024 in their back pocket. —

Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2024

Verb

The omnibus bill also included a provision, backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, preventing the slating of legislative candidates for the November election in races where political parties did not field contenders. —

Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 2024 The 81-year old stepped aside from the Democratic nomination this summer, backing Vice President Kamala Harris instead. —

Josh Boak The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 5 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The female-specific fit and harness system is extremely comfortable for hours on end, and the ventilated back panel helps keep you noticeably cooler and drier during sweaty hikes. —

Jen Ator, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2024 This will also help reduce spreading on the back side of the carpet. —

Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for back

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.