1
as in champs
the person who comes in first in a competition
the champion of the national spelling bee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proponents
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in advocates
to promote the interests or cause of
he has always championed the protection of abused animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of champions
Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
Washington approved sales of Nvidia’s powerful H200 processors to China in January, but Beijing restricted Chinese companies from buying them, in a push to support homegrown chip champions.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
On Maryland Avenue in the shadow of historic State House, Galway Bay pub is one of the city’s biggest champions of Annapolis' Irish heritage, hosting history dinners, lectures, and events throughout the month of March.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The Warriors and Lancers finished as co-champions last season, so middles Jocund Binder and Alman Hassan will look to be part of the winning recipe for an outright title in 2026.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Ludogorets, the name of the Bulgarian champions, is an anagram of ‘good result’.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the 2023-24 season and Nate Schmidt in the 2024-25 season played pivotal roles in Florida becoming back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
The first meeting of the season between the NBA champions and a Knicks team that fell two wins short of facing them in the NBA Finals had a high level of intensity.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Five clubs have more than doubled in value, led by reigning champions Gotham FC up 119% to $175 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
Crosswell has secured a series of high-profile endorsements, including from the VoteVets political action group, which champions Democratic political candidates.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Hotel Naru also champions a community-centric approach.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The hotel’s art is curated by OZ Art NWA, which champions Northwest Arkansas artists.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
Organizing consultant Marie Kondo also champions the benefits of a tidy workspace.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
In addition to developing feature genre stories, Schwan is one of the founders of Silverlake Scream Show, an annual horror anthology screening event that champions emerging genre filmmakers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
Like Redford, Frasure also champions low taxes.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
The Republican who ostensibly champions liberty but justifies authoritarian impulses from the White House.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Many have complained that having two divisions and two state champions for each classification waters down the playoffs and provides easier paths to the state championship game.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
Washington approved sales of Nvidia’s powerful H200 processors to China in January, but Beijing restricted Chinese companies from buying them, in a push to support homegrown chip champions.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
On Maryland Avenue in the shadow of historic State House, Galway Bay pub is one of the city’s biggest champions of Annapolis' Irish heritage, hosting history dinners, lectures, and events throughout the month of March.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
The Warriors and Lancers finished as co-champions last season, so middles Jocund Binder and Alman Hassan will look to be part of the winning recipe for an outright title in 2026.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Ludogorets, the name of the Bulgarian champions, is an anagram of ‘good result’.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the 2023-24 season and Nate Schmidt in the 2024-25 season played pivotal roles in Florida becoming back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
The first meeting of the season between the NBA champions and a Knicks team that fell two wins short of facing them in the NBA Finals had a high level of intensity.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Five clubs have more than doubled in value, led by reigning champions Gotham FC up 119% to $175 million.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Kat Chan, nutritionist and author of Substack’s Full Serving, champions it as one of the most grounding ways to start the day, particularly in colder months.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
Crosswell has secured a series of high-profile endorsements, including from the VoteVets political action group, which champions Democratic political candidates.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The Hotel Naru also champions a community-centric approach.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The hotel’s art is curated by OZ Art NWA, which champions Northwest Arkansas artists.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
Organizing consultant Marie Kondo also champions the benefits of a tidy workspace.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
In addition to developing feature genre stories, Schwan is one of the founders of Silverlake Scream Show, an annual horror anthology screening event that champions emerging genre filmmakers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
Like Redford, Frasure also champions low taxes.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
The Republican who ostensibly champions liberty but justifies authoritarian impulses from the White House.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champions
Noun
-
Their annual coronation as Big East champs is expected Monday night.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Mater Dei Catholic;27-7;Open Division champs return six starters;1 2.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ironically, bell-to-bell ban proponents like Britt-Friedman are also worried about children’s safety — but the danger that animates them is the phone itself.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
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Now, the hospital, which treats mostly people involved with the justice system, is expanding to alleviate the county’s overlapping mental health and homelessness crisis, in what proponents described as a more compassionate approach than in the past.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, Miller — whose campaign opponents say is supported by around $5 million in campaign contributions and independent expenditures tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a group that advocates for Israel’s interests — pushed back against Peters’ criticism.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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Nearly 235 years later, thousands of people have died while in government custody, at prisons and jails, in what advocates — and courts — have said are direct violations of prisoners' constitutional rights.—
Davi Merchan,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Reader votes determine winners each round.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
-
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The military success of the opening act of the current Iran war, which began with the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has bolstered the confidence of Netanyahu’s supporters as Israel barrels toward an election later this year.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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But between matches, before kickoff or after the final whistle, even the most hardcore supporters need a place to relax, stretch their legs and experience something beyond the stadium gates.—
Taylor Haught,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rabbi Laurence Bazer, who endorses Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis and cantors as military chaplains through the Jewish Chaplains Council, said Jewish groups are working together on the issue.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Written in English and Spanish, the declaration endorses efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in combating transnational criminal organizations and narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The prime exponents are Brentford, with whom Gronnemark has worked on a consultancy basis.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Champions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/champions. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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