maintain

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as in to keep
to pay the living expenses of we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb maintain differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of maintain are assert, defend, justify, and vindicate. While all these words mean "to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable," maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

steadfastly maintained his innocence

When would assert be a good substitute for maintain?

Although the words assert and maintain have much in common, assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

asserted her rights

When could defend be used to replace maintain?

In some situations, the words defend and maintain are roughly equivalent. However, defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

defended his voting record

When is it sensible to use justify instead of maintain?

The words justify and maintain can be used in similar contexts, but 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

In what contexts can vindicate take the place of maintain?

The meanings of vindicate and maintain largely overlap; however, vindicate implies successfully defending.

his success vindicated our faith in him

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of maintain The hearing centered on how America can stay ahead in the new space race, with lawmakers pressing the importance of Artemis and reaffirming the need for the Gateway space station and to maintain continuous operations in low Earth orbit (LEO). Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025 World Sevens is not regulated by FIFA, and its competitions do not compete against domestic league schedules, meaning participating players can maintain club obligations while playing in the tournaments. Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2025 To maintain this headspace on set, Hardwicke almost went a little method. Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025 The Bengals had a chance to score in the third quarter, but the 49ers staged a now legendary four-play goal-line stand to maintain a two-score lead. Beryl Love, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for maintain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maintain
Verb
  • In recent years, community groups have fought to preserve the airline’s legacy.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Zara Kocak, Station Camp High The junior swimmer with two state titles to defend traveled to London, England, to compete at the AP International Meet, which brought together the top 52 swimmers in the United States to represent Team USA.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Democrats raised concerns about potential negative impacts on healthcare coverage, while Republicans defended the bill's work requirements for assistance programs.
    Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Buying Russian oil saved India billions of dollars on import costs, keeping domestic fuel prices relatively stable.
    AFP, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Then keep scrolling to shop more blanket deals at Amazon.
    Maggie Horton, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The plaintiffs argued the displacement was motivated by a desire to limit readers' access to books with viewpoints that are unpopular and controversial in the area.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But there are Republicans who argue that the changes to Medicaid strengthen the program for the most vulnerable.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Parsons, citing a back injury, refrained from practicing and might have been willing to insist he was too hurt to play once the real games began.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
  • His anguished mother insisted on an open-casket ceremony to show the world the gruesome cruelty of lynching.
    Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Congress decided to make daylight saving time permanent for two years from 1973 to 1975, extending the hours of daily sunlight year-round to conserve energy during the oil embargo crisis.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Just as geese conserve energy by flying in formation, teams conserve cognitive bandwidth when social and task rhythms are predictable.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Businesses can and should use catastrophe models themselves to establish baseline risk profiles, stress-test scenarios, quantify protection gaps, and justify resilience investments.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Some are too flashy, while others look too plain to justify the price tag.
    Amina Ayoud, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The red edges and soft fabric give them an elegant look while their memory foam insole keeps feet supported and comfortable with every step.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • For Jamaica, how and where field event athletes can be better supported, and, for governing bodies, whether multiple medallists moving from one country to another at once sets another bad precedent.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Maintain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maintain. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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