1
as in champs
the person who comes in first in a competition
the champion of the national spelling bee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Ruba Borno, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Two state champions, three state runners-up and stars from team state champ highlight first team.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Because conference champions automatically qualify for March Madness, each conference has a minimum number of base units accumulated over the previous six years, plus any additional units earned from multiple schools getting bids or tournament games won.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Pioneers were state champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2024.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Regular-season champions, top-seeded in the Big West Conference Tournament and a double-bye into the semifinals.
—Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Leading the back-to-back Big East regular season champions in just about every statistical category, Ejiofor was the only player unanimously voted First Team All-League in addition to being the only unanimous pick for the All-Defensive Team.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Despite its champions, the idea of an entirely new capital wasn’t taken seriously until the waning years of the nineteenth century.
—Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026
Three major champions, all beaten in straight sets, all at a single WTA event.
—Ryan Brennan
march 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 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
Today, nearly 4,000 employees use an AI coding assistant to write and maintain 4 million lines of code per year—but that achievement required investing in training, creating champions within teams, and giving people permission to experiment.
—Ruba Borno, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Two state champions, three state runners-up and stars from team state champ highlight first team.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Because conference champions automatically qualify for March Madness, each conference has a minimum number of base units accumulated over the previous six years, plus any additional units earned from multiple schools getting bids or tournament games won.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Pioneers were state champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2024.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Regular-season champions, top-seeded in the Big West Conference Tournament and a double-bye into the semifinals.
—Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Leading the back-to-back Big East regular season champions in just about every statistical category, Ejiofor was the only player unanimously voted First Team All-League in addition to being the only unanimous pick for the All-Defensive Team.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Despite its champions, the idea of an entirely new capital wasn’t taken seriously until the waning years of the nineteenth century.
—Sophia La Banca, JSTOR Daily, 11 Mar. 2026
Three major champions, all beaten in straight sets, all at a single WTA event.
—Ryan Brennan
march 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 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
-
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
-
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
-
After losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao and his Communist forces, the Nationalist government and its supporters fled in 1949 to the island of Taiwan and continued to rule as the Republic of China’s government in exile.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
One of the biggest flashpoints came in November when Van de Ven and Djed Spence walked straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the supporters after a 1-0 defeat at home by rivals Chelsea.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 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 14 Mar. 2026.
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