Synonyms of maintain

maintain

verb

mān-ˈtān 

1

as in to preserve

to keep in good condition

he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby

Synonyms & Similar Words

• preserve
• conserve
• save
• protect
• defend
• restore
• keep up
• sustain
• safeguard
• manage
• rebuild
• guard
• service
• support
• husband
• rehabilitate
• reconstruct
• shield
• care (for)
• cure
• heal
• remedy
• patch
• fix
• rejuvenate
• screen
• mend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• destroy
• neglect
• break
• hurt
• impair
• injure
• ruin
• harm
• damage
• wreck

2

as in to defend

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 & Similar Words

• defend
• justify
• uphold
• support
• assert
• advocate
• affirm
• stick up for
• stand up for
• confirm
• proclaim
• discuss
• insist
• vindicate
• emphasize
• plead
• contend
• state
• espouse
• argue
• claim
• profess
• champion
• warrant
• aver
• protest
• underline
• debate
• underscore
• avow
• stress
• avouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdraw
• abandon
• forsake
• take back
• retract
• reverse
• switch
• abjure
• recant
• refute
• disprove
• rebut
• controvert

3

as in to keep

to pay the living expenses of

we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• keep
• support
• provide (for)
• take care of
• fund
• underwrite
• finance
• foot the bill (for)
• sponsor
• patronize
• stake
• set up

4

as in to argue

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 & Similar Words

• argue
• contend
• reason
• assert
• plead
• convince
• insist
• justify
• explain
• persuade
• claim
• mention
• suggest
• enforce
• defend
• consider
• affirm
• cite
• propose
• offer
• submit
• urge
• give
• advise
• recommend
• discuss
• advocate
• advance
• support
• adduce
• counsel
• rationalize
• aver
• refute
• disprove
• counter
• avow
• rebut
• espouse
• champion
• debate
• avouch
• confute

5

as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully

he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insist
• allege
• claim
• assert
• contend
• declare
• affirm
• announce
• profess
• argue
• protest
• proclaim
• put forth
• defend
• purport
• aver
• warrant
• confirm
• avow
• justify
• reason
• uphold
• avouch
• rationalize
• broadcast
• vindicate
• reassert
• persevere
• reaffirm
• support

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• abandon
• reject
• negate
• negative
• challenge
• repudiate
• disclaim
• gainsay
• question
• disprove
• refute
• disavow
• dispute
• contradict
• counter
• rebut
• disown
• confute

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

Recent Examples of maintain

The Cartel de los Soles remains active along Colombia’s border, maintaining ties with guerrilla groups such as the ELN and with Mexican cartels to traffic cocaine, gold and other contraband. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

Beijing, which claims the self-governing island as its territory despite having never controlled it, maintains close ties with Russia and could lean on Moscow to cut off the flow of naphtha to Taiwan. —John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Mendes would later detail his struggles with maintaining his mental health while touring, and cancel his Wonder world tour in 2022. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025

By reducing the need for numerous physical sensors, future fusion reactors could become more compact, simpler, and less expensive to build and maintain. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025