Thesaurus

maintain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of maintain

1 to keep in good condition

he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby

Synonyms of maintain

conserve, keep up, preserve, save

Words Related to maintain

service

support, sustain

care (for), husband, manage

defend, guard, protect, safeguard, screen, shield

cure, fix, heal, remedy

mend, patch, rebuild, reconstruct, rehabilitate, rejuvenate, restore

Near Antonyms of maintain

disregard, ignore, neglect

break, damage, destroy, harm, hurt, impair, injure, ruin, wreck

2 to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections

part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges

Synonyms of maintain

defend, justify, support, uphold

Words Related to maintain

advocate, champion, espouse

confirm, vindicate, warrant

affirm, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, insist, plead, proclaim, profess, protest, state

argue, debate, discuss

emphasize, stress, underline, underscore

Phrases Synonymous with maintain

stand up for, stick up for

Near Antonyms of maintain

abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw

reverse, switch

controvert, disprove, rebut, refute

3 to pay the living expenses of

we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse

Synonyms of maintain

keep, provide (for), support

Words Related to maintain

finance, fund, patronize, set up, sponsor, stake, underwrite

Phrases Synonymous with maintain

foot the bill (for), take care of

4 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes

Synonyms of maintain

argue, assert, contend, plead, reason

Words Related to maintain

adduce, cite, mention

claim, insist

affirm, aver, avouch, avow

advance, give, offer, propose, submit

advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge

convince, persuade

advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support

explain, justify, rationalize

consider, debate, discuss

confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute

5 to state as a fact usually forcefully

he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors

Synonyms of maintain

affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, profess, protest, purport, warrant

Words Related to maintain

announce, broadcast, proclaim

argue, rationalize, reason

confirm, justify, vindicate

defend, persevere, support, uphold

reaffirm, reassert

Phrases Synonymous with maintain

put forth

Near Antonyms of maintain

abandon

disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate

challenge, dispute, question

confute, disprove, rebut, refute

contradict, counter

Antonyms of maintain

deny, gainsay

Synonym Discussion of maintain

maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable. maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

- steadfastly maintained his innocence

assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

- asserted her rights

defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

- defended his voting record

vindicate implies successfully defending.

- his success vindicated our faith in him

justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent.

- the action was used to justify military intervention

Learn More about maintain

Dictionary: Definition of maintain Spanish Central: Translation of maintain Nglish: Translation of maintain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of maintain for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up maintain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

Thesaurus

maintain

Synonyms and Antonyms of maintain

Synonym Discussion of maintain

Learn More about maintain

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

flounce

Enter the Haiku That Can Pay You Contest

Enter the Haiku That Can Pay You Contest

Enter the Haiku That Can Pay You Contest

Enter the Haiku That Can Pay You Contest

On Contractions of Multiple Words