Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

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

  1. 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 hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games