Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

champion

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of champion

1 the person who comes in first in a competition

  • the champion of the national spelling bee
Synonyms of champion

champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner
Words Related to champion

cochampion, cowinner

placer

finalist, quarterfinalist, semifinalist

medalist (or medallist), prizewinner

megastar, star, superstar

world-beater
Near Antonyms of champion

loser

2 a person who actively supports or favors a cause

  • she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress
Synonyms of champion

advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, espouser, exponent, expounder, friend, gospeler (or gospeller), herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight
Words Related to champion

loyalist, partisan (also partizan), stalwart

adherent, cohort, disciple, follower

interpreter

applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler
Near Antonyms of champion

enemy, foe, rival

belittler, critic, faultfinder
Antonyms of champion

adversary, antagonist, opponent

champion

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of champion

to promote the interests or cause of

  • he has always championed the protection of abused animals
Synonyms of champion

advocate, back, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for) , support
Words Related to champion

adopt, embrace, espouse

abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with)

backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce)

advance, forward, further

plug, preach, talk up

bail out, deliver, rescue, save
Phrases Synonymous with champion

go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for
Near Antonyms of champion

baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart

desert, disappoint, fail, let down

Synonym Discussion of champion

support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.
    • supports waterfront development
uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.
    • upheld the legitimacy of the military action
advocate stresses urging or pleading.
    • advocated prison reform
back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.
    • refusing to back the call for sanctions
champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.
    • championed the rights of children

Learn More about champion

  1. See words that rhyme with champion Dictionary: Definition of champion Spanish Central: Translation of champion Nglish: Translation of champion for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of champion for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about champion

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up champion? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games