champion 1 of 2

champion

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of champion are advocate, back, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When can advocate be used instead of champion?

The words advocate and champion can be used in similar contexts, but advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When might back be a better fit than champion?

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

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When could support be used to replace champion?

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

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to champion?

While the synonyms uphold and champion 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 champion
Noun
Lake Ridge and North Crowley, both undefeated in 3-6A play, will face off on Thursday in a game that could decide the district champion. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025 The high point came in September 2014, when Brækhus defeated Croatian Ivana Habazin to add the IBF welterweight title to her WBA, WBC, and WBO belts – becoming the first woman in any weight division to be recognized as an undisputed champion. George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
But their voices were drowned out when Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the relatively moderate leader, took office as President of Iran, a few months after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, and aggressively championed privatization of the economy—a policy outlook that ignored ecological concerns. Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025 The billionaire couple, who are said to have championed and provided financial support to teams, allegedly flew with Ellis to attend a soccer Final Four when the coach and her team won a championship. Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for champion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champion
Noun
  • Still, the positive outlook is that the defending champs are 4-1 with some impressive wins and without having played their best football.
    Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Those teams are going to cannibalize each other somewhat the rest of the way, but a one- or two-loss AAC champ likely would be ranked higher by the playoff committee.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Massive Attack have also joined a separate but parallel drive to pull music from Spotify altogether; proponents of that movement primarily cite founder Daniel Ek’s investment in weapons contractor Helsing, which is not linked to Israel.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 Oct. 2025
  • With Newsom’s signature now on AB 1340, drivers can collectively bargain and unionize, including negotiating contracts, which would set industry-wide standards, according to proponents like bill sponsors Assemblymembers Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The commonwealth has been without an operational freestanding birthing center since the 1980s, said Mary Kathryn DeLodder, director of the Kentucky Birth Coalition — a grassroots organization that led the charge in advocating for legislation loosening regulations for the facilities.
    Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Ascension Saint Thomas President and CEO Fahad Tahir is among many local health care leaders advocating for Congress to extend the tax credits.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Tennessee's election winner will be crucial for Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to lead the chamber.
    Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Nino Niederreiter's 2014 Game 7 winner in Colorado ranks second.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Back in the 1920s, even the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin called on his British supporters to affiliate with the Labour Party instead of fighting it.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2025
  • No victims speak in court While the court heard several pleas from Combs’ supporters Friday, the victims who testified at trial were noticeably absent from the hearing.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In response to that news, Colbert received an outpouring of support from many of his current and former fellow talk-show hosts, including Kimmel, who even took out a billboard in Los Angeles endorsing Colbert (against his own show), for an Emmy.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Although the ‘9-9-6’ workweek violates Chinese labor laws, it was famously endorsed by Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma in 2019.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Your browser does not support the video tag.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access.
    Amy Huschka, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Young Thug is the purest exponent of mainstream rap’s melodic rap era.
    Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Stephanie Bell is none other than Stephanie Kelton, now an exponent of Modern Monetary Theory.
    Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Champion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/champion. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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