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
Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
The victims included youth athletes, national champions, coaches and international referees.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Today, both of these former All-Stars, Olympians and NBA champions are on the other side of 30, have logged a lot of basketball miles and are currently injured.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Indiana Pacers Another surprisingly expensive team, the reigning Eastern Conference champions would likely go into the tax if restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin gets an appropriate salary over the summer.
—Danny Leroux, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Our firm has been built on diversity and effective dealmaking, and Chris and Molly are champions of both.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
New England is also just the fifth team to make it to the Super Bowl a season after winning four or fewer games, with only the 1999 Rams completing that turnaround as champions.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Homegrown rarities Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester headlined the ‘13 champions, but Boston’s most recent World Series squad in 2018 boasted a dazzling, but entirely outside rotation.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
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
The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due.
—Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
In Bieniemy’s absence, the Chiefs repeated as Super Bowl champions the next season — followed by a runner-up finish and a season that went off the rails in 2025.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
The victims included youth athletes, national champions, coaches and international referees.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Today, both of these former All-Stars, Olympians and NBA champions are on the other side of 30, have logged a lot of basketball miles and are currently injured.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Indiana Pacers Another surprisingly expensive team, the reigning Eastern Conference champions would likely go into the tax if restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin gets an appropriate salary over the summer.
—Danny Leroux, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Our firm has been built on diversity and effective dealmaking, and Chris and Molly are champions of both.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
New England is also just the fifth team to make it to the Super Bowl a season after winning four or fewer games, with only the 1999 Rams completing that turnaround as champions.
—Josh Dubow, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Homegrown rarities Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester headlined the ‘13 champions, but Boston’s most recent World Series squad in 2018 boasted a dazzling, but entirely outside rotation.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
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
-
His coach at Texas A&M, Jackie Sherrill, sent a statement recalling that Chet had been a key recruit out of Carter in 1984 and a cornerstone of three straight SWC champs.—
Kevin Sherrington,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Now, thanks in large part to Cignetti and the coaches and 13 players who followed him from James Madison, Indiana begins next season as the defending national champs, defending Big Ten champs and with both the nation’s longest winning streak and nation’s longest home winning streak.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Critics of phasing out natural gas argue that much of the electricity on the grid comes from natural gas, but proponents say renewable energy is making up a larger share.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at New York University who has written about modern masculinity, has been among the most vocal proponents of the idea that drinking plays a crucial social role in American society.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pattie Gonia advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and for protection of public land and the environment.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This has forced transgender children and their families to relocate — sometimes to other states and out of the country — to seek medical care, said Brit Cervantes, the founder of OCGAPNet, an organization that advocates for trans rights.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Having beaten Rybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go ahead 3-0, but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing the victory to add to her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
California should be deeply concerned when hedge funds – not survivors – emerge as the biggest winners in lawsuits with taxpayer dollars on the line.—
Jaime Huff,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Family, friends, and rabid supporters cheered.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities ultimately barred Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending the match, citing security concerns, after large-scale protests were planned.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Every Black History Month Has a Theme Each year the president endorses a specific theme for Black History Month.—
Terri Huggins Hart,
Parents,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Steve Scalise endorses Houston Gaines for Congress.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
27 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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