SUPPORT Synonyms: 318 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'support' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of support are advocate , back , champion , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

Q: When could 'advocate' be used to replace 'support'?

While in some cases nearly identical to support , advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: Where would 'back' be a reasonable alternative to 'support'?

In some situations, the words back and support are roughly equivalent. However, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

Q: When can 'champion' be used instead of 'support'?

The words champion and support are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When is it sensible to use 'uphold' instead of 'support'?

While the synonyms uphold and support are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

support 1 of 2

noun

Definition of support next

as in reinforcement

a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else if you don't add a couple more supports to that tower of blocks, it's going to fall down

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Relevance

as in assistance

an act or instance of helping the team's victory owes a lot to Joe's strong support in left field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

support

2 of 2

verb

sə-ˈpȯrt

as in to advocate

to promote the interests or cause of though childless themselves, they support the local schools both by volunteering and by fiercely opposing funding cuts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to maintain

to pay the living expenses of a young widow supporting a sick mother as well as two small children on a teacher's salary

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as in to sustain

to hold up or serve as a foundation for pillars supporting the bridge

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as in to reinforce

to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) studies that support the claim that red wine drinkers have a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to justify

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections we support the students' right to speak out on local issues that affect them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to verify

to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of new evidence supports the original researchers' unexpected conclusions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assist

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end sent reinforcements to support the troops deployed overseas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to tolerate

to put up with (something painful or difficult) he simply cannot support the thought of having to go on living without his beloved wife at his side

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word support different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of support are advocate, back, champion, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When could advocate be used to replace support?

While in some cases nearly identical to support, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would back be a reasonable alternative to support?

In some situations, the words back and support are roughly equivalent. However, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can champion be used instead of support?

The words champion and support are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of support?

While the synonyms uphold and support are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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 support

Noun

Plus, this Franco Sarto style is popular for its soft construction and arch support. —

Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026 The results suggest a broad surge in support for loosening restrictions on research into substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to probe their potential for medical use. —

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 May 2026

Verb

During the meeting, teams spoke about their struggles to support their travel to competitions. —

Katie Servas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026 Include supporting documentation, such as your identity theft report and copies of your correspondence with creditors. —

Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for support

Recent Examples of Synonyms for support

Noun

Colorado could also get reinforcements on defense.

— Michael Russo, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Additional structural reinforcement and rollover protection were required after removing the roof, although the company claims the weight increase compared with the coupe is minimal.

— James Morris, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

Definition of reinforcement

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supplying

support

supportable

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“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of support

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