MAINTAINING Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

maintaining

verb

present participle of maintain

as in preserving

to keep in good condition he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in defending

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in keeping

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in arguing

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

as in insisting

to state as a fact usually forcefully he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 maintaining Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026 In addition to exercise, Eden said, maintaining a balanced diet is another part of her wellness regimen. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026 Groups have also raised concerns about the government maintaining records on Jews, which is reminiscent for some of the trauma of the Holocaust. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The tips and tricks for maintaining hosiery that used to be passed down by family and friends are in danger of being lost to time and ever-changing fashion trends. — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026 The nutrient plays a critical role in digestive health, blood sugar and cholesterol regulation, and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 There is no research to support claims that this walking style offers benefits beyond regular walking for maintaining a healthy lymphatic system. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The few remaining workers maintaining the plant, however, received those benefits upon ratification. — Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Taylor emphasizes that Santa Fe is a historic neighborhood — it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and the importance of maintaining the homes. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maintaining

Verb

Standing in front of an industrial site in Pennsylvania in his trademark black hoodie, Fetterman spoke about preserving the region's steel jobs.

— Maham Javaid, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
Chief Financial Officer Pedro De Faria said the money would come from impact fees and would be used for the design, development and installation of permanent museum and exhibit space dedicated to preserving Hialeah’s history, culture and heritage.

— Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of preserving

Verb

This week provides a major test for Houser and the offense with defending ACC champ Duke and defensive guru Manny Diaz coming to Champaign.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The office of the state attorney general is responsible for defending death penalty convictions on appeal.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

Milei has rejected calls for government intervention, arguing that unpaid debts are a private matter between borrowers and lenders rather than a symptom of wider economic distress.

— Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Reddington said his first priority is arguing later this month that a retrial would violate Clancy's constitutional protection against double jeopardy because the mistrial was declared over the defense's objection.

— Bryan Llenas , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Know More The government has, in the wake of Ruto’s comments, offered undocumented East Africans a 90-day window to regularize their status, insisting the policy is about enforcing immigration and business rules rather than targeting foreigners.

— Vivianne Wandera, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Haaretz says Netanyahu responded calmly, insisting Israel was prepared and the greater threat lay in the West Bank, while his office now brands the report an ‘absolute lie’ and rejects calls for an inquiry.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of insisting

Verb

Transparency without context can breed distrust, because disclosing a number is not the same as justifying it, and both expectations and the law have moved on.

— Aniela Unguresan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
That is why parents, and moms in particular, who historically have taken on most of the child care work and labor in the home—have trouble justifying rest.

— Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifying

Verb

The company says the plant could provide roughly 400 MW of electrical power without the risk of plasma disruptions, supporting its intended role as a source of baseload energy.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Finland has also been an attractive location for digital infrastructure supporting social media workloads, with TikTok planning on expanding its data center capacity in the country.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporting

Browse Nearby Words

maintained

maintaining

maintains

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Maintaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maintaining. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of maintaining

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

hobnob

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes