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
Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026
Reigning champions Team Fluff will send players including Benito (Siberian Husky-Chihuahua) and Showgirl (Chow Chow-Rottweiler) to defend their title.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
Harrison Reed’s thunderous late leveller against the reigning champions continued a run of five league games without defeat for Marco Silva’s side, who would move level on points with their rivals with a victory on Thursday.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Highlanders champions were Lucas Layne, Liam McGettigan, Clinton Plotner, Ronin Gault, Colton Bell and Grant Silverfield.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
YouTube, ByteDance’s Douyin and TikTok, and Netflix lead the field, alongside strong national champions including JioHotstar and U-Next.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
While the defense was on the field getting yet another key stop against the defending national champions, and Beck locks eyes with Lewis, his favorite linebacker growing up.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling World Series that will be remembered for decades to come, becoming the first back-to-back champions MLB has seen in 25 years.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The 2024 champions, who defeated Notre Dame in the championship game earlier this year, have been stellar with an 8-0 start to no one’s surprise.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
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
The whole concept also champions uniqueness, with the members scoping out outfits that feel true to themselves, while also being out of this world.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
Ai Weiwei’s work frequently champions free speech, gives a voice to the downtrodden.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due.
—Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Ole Miss' Pete Golding was a defensive coach on the 2020 champions.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Jan. 2026
Reigning champions Team Fluff will send players including Benito (Siberian Husky-Chihuahua) and Showgirl (Chow Chow-Rottweiler) to defend their title.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
Harrison Reed’s thunderous late leveller against the reigning champions continued a run of five league games without defeat for Marco Silva’s side, who would move level on points with their rivals with a victory on Thursday.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Highlanders champions were Lucas Layne, Liam McGettigan, Clinton Plotner, Ronin Gault, Colton Bell and Grant Silverfield.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
YouTube, ByteDance’s Douyin and TikTok, and Netflix lead the field, alongside strong national champions including JioHotstar and U-Next.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
While the defense was on the field getting yet another key stop against the defending national champions, and Beck locks eyes with Lewis, his favorite linebacker growing up.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling World Series that will be remembered for decades to come, becoming the first back-to-back champions MLB has seen in 25 years.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The 2024 champions, who defeated Notre Dame in the championship game earlier this year, have been stellar with an 8-0 start to no one’s surprise.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
The whole concept also champions uniqueness, with the members scoping out outfits that feel true to themselves, while also being out of this world.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
Ai Weiwei’s work frequently champions free speech, gives a voice to the downtrodden.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due.
—Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champions
Noun
-
The Panthers are the reigning NFC South champs.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Eagles were the defending Super Bowl champs.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But proponents of the industry claim that the environmental costs still net out as a plus since the space data centers take processing off the fossil-fuel-burning grid.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
-
One of the biggest proponents of the capri resurgence, the supermodel has been making a stylish case for cropped pants since last summer—and her latest iteration takes the divisive Noughties silhouette into Italian girl style territory.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gonzalez, who lives in exile and advocates Venezuelan reforms from Spain, has not requested to be installed as head of state.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Poore is the founder of On a Mission KC, a nonprofit organization that advocates for long-term shelter pets.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
A number of winners serve the unhoused.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Girls individual winners at the Ron Peters tourney included Lake Mary’s Cayden Flories and Zaria Slater.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Julia Mejia arguably received the most favorable committee chairmanship of Worrell’s supporters, with education.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
As Venezuelans have slowly emerged from their homes to buy groceries, see family, and go back to work, many are leaving their phones at home, concerned about their devices being searched by armed supporters of the government known as colectivos.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once a behemoth of culture and a refuge from politics, the center now endorses a narrow vision of art and espouses a MAGA agenda.—
Christine Ledbetter,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Cornyn has played up his ties to Trump and says if the president endorses him, the primary effectively is over.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 2026.
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