prop up

1 to hold up or serve as a foundation for these beams are propping up the entire roof Synonyms bear, bolster, brace, buttress, carry, support (up), shore (up), stay, sustain, undergird, underpin, upholdRelated Words steady, truss, underlie

2 to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end invariably his strong religious faith props him up in times of crisis Synonyms abet, aid, assist, back, backstop, help (up), supportRelated Words advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serveNear Antonyms balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injureAntonyms hinder