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
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Entering the season, the back-to-back World Series champions have a deep starting rotation, even accounting for a possible six-man rotation, which manager Dave Roberts hinted at during the offseason as a way to give starters extra rest over a long season.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There are 52 returning champions and 19 unbeaten wrestlers among the field of more than 1,300 qualifiers.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
But the Olympics, of course, is when the general American public tunes in to these niche sports and their traditions and champions.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
The team boasts defending world champions in three of the four disciplines.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are the league champions and other worthwhile notes from around the area before heading into the playoffs.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Efimova and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, are the reigning pairs national champions.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
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
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
Noun
Meyer’s champions call him a bulldog.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Entering the season, the back-to-back World Series champions have a deep starting rotation, even accounting for a possible six-man rotation, which manager Dave Roberts hinted at during the offseason as a way to give starters extra rest over a long season.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
There are 52 returning champions and 19 unbeaten wrestlers among the field of more than 1,300 qualifiers.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
His character, humility, toughness and genuine love of others are what champions are made of.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
But the Olympics, of course, is when the general American public tunes in to these niche sports and their traditions and champions.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 18 Feb. 2026
The team boasts defending world champions in three of the four disciplines.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are the league champions and other worthwhile notes from around the area before heading into the playoffs.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Efimova and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, are the reigning pairs national champions.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champions
Noun
-
During his nine years as head coach, Aquin made the state Class 1A playoffs four times, and became state champs in that class in 1981 and again in 1986.—
Tom Strong,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Bobcats then lost a heartbreaker to Boston College to end their hopes of repeating as champs.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Both Nakamura and Carlsen are proponents of faster formats and are signed to esports teams.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The legislation's proponents have called on him to use a maneuver known as a talking filibuster to sidestep the 60-vote threshold for ending debate, but doing so would eat up valuable floor time and enable Democrats to offer unlimited amendments.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What advocates fear — and what was written into November’s notice — is a cap on permanent housing funding and a competition for funds that are usually guaranteed.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Towers worry civil liberty advocates The most basic models of Anduril’s towers stand 33 feet tall and are equipped with video cameras and artificial intelligence software that can spot a person nearly two miles away and log a vehicle from even farther, according to the company’s website.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Saint John’s Prep followed in third with final winners James Lally (144) and Sam Josey (190).—
Hannah Hughes,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Among the participating lotteries, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have produced the most Powerball jackpot winners.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One Irish supporters’ club group had 35 fans coming to the home meeting with Everton in November, a number that more than halved to 15 when the game was switched to a Monday night.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Park service workers last month abruptly removed exhibits from the Philadelphia site, prompting the city and other supporters of the exhibit to sue.—
Maryclaire Dale,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Exile is what the ex-Hasid experiences when, in response to her secular beliefs, she is expelled from her ultra-Orthodox community and thrown into a new environment that speaks in a different language, uses a different currency, and endorses a different worldview.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
-
John King endorses Tim Fleming for secretary of state.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2026.
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