PROMOTE Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'promote' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of promote are advance , forward , and further . While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank. // a campaign to promote better health

Q: When might 'advance' be a better fit than 'promote'?

Although the words advance and promote have much in common, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end. // advance the cause of peace

Q: When is it sensible to use 'forward' instead of 'promote'?

While the synonyms forward and promote are close in meaning, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead. // a wage increase would forward productivity

Q: When would 'further' be a good substitute for 'promote'?

The synonyms further and promote are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance. // used the marriage to further his career

promote

verb

prə-ˈmōt

Definition of promote

as in to sell

to provide publicity for promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to elevate

to move higher in rank or position the navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to encourage

to help the growth or development of a campaign promoting good dental hygiene

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to grow

to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care spends all her time now promoting her new business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promote contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of promote are advance, forward, and further. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

When might advance be a better fit than promote?

Although the words advance and promote have much in common, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is it sensible to use forward instead of promote?

While the synonyms forward and promote are close in meaning, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for promote?

The synonyms further and promote are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

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 promote These posts subtly promote specific hotels or airlines while pretending to be neutral travelers. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 The Atlanta Braves promoted Walt Weiss, 62, from bench coach to manager to replace Brian Snitker, who retired after a decade on the job. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 He was promoted to lieutenant colonel from major posthumously, his wife said. — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Paige Thomas has been promoted to chief executive officer, president and board member of the rental pioneer, putting a retail veteran of Signet Jewelers, Saks Off 5th and Nordstrom into the corner office. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for promote

Recent Examples of Synonyms for promote

Verb

In 2015, a Tourbillon Souverain Blue in tantalum sold for 550,000 Swiss francs (about $547,000), four times the price of the platinum version.

— Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026
Self-interrogation, of course, is often unpleasant and is not a prescription that is likely to sell many books.

— Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of sell

Verb

Andrew Perloff and Paul Pabst assess the threat level for the teams in the AFC East, discussing how much Geno Smith elevates the Jets and how the Patriots' schedule affects their ceiling.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Trump on Wednesday said energy prices that have been elevated due to the Iran war will not come down until after the midterm elections, which are due in November.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

Bunch said that one of his goals in the head role was to encourage Americans to embrace ambiguity and recognize that America is a complicated, multifaceted nation.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
The stated purpose would be to encourage more people to fill out the forms without fear of having their privacy violated.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

The platform decides which content receives additional exposure, and that exposure can influence who discovers a creator and whether the creator’s audience grows.

— Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Out of that conversation grew my novel The Undead, which is, in some ways, a parting love letter to Moscow.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of grow

Verb

The secretary has publicized his meetings with everyone from health technology CEOs and regenerative farmers to addiction recovery specialists, fast-food executives, and beyond.

— Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
Talarico is hoping to raise further ethical questions about Paxton by publicizing the Unity Resources case.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of publicize

Verb

What ended up dropping prices was an end to the production caps, which allowed for more new Maseratis and Chevys and more used cars as buyers upgraded and sold their old vehicles.

— David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
Leaning on rules of engagement may do little good for Ferrari in the 2026 title fight, such is the gap to Antonelli and the form of Mercedes, which still has a car and engine upgrade in the pipeline for this season.

— Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of upgrade

Verb

Wickersham spent more than a year writing his book and cultivated the background from a sportswriting life spent observing QBs.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
The promotion and publicity that larger news organizations can bring to bear is just one consideration, as is an ability to put new content directly in front of a large audience that has already been cultivated.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

When the ball was on target, not only was it was caught, but receivers produced nearly 60 percent of Iowa’s pass yards after the catch.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
That target remains well beyond simply producing a larger processor.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of produce

Browse Nearby Words

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promoted

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Style

“Promote.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promote. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of promote

verb

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