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Definition of supportnext
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
Equity means ensuring every child has access to what research tells us supports learning, not flooding classrooms with surveillance technology that produces cognitive and emotional debt that will disproportionately harm students of color. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026 What healthcare workers want the world to see with these posts is, on the surface, a defiant support of Fauci. Alessandra Hirsch, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
Clubs must submit an interim assessment of their compliance by January 10 each season, followed by a final assessment with supporting evidence by April 30. Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Thousands or even millions more weapons may still be out there, said Bill Morse, president of the Landmine Relief Fund, which supports Cambodian Self Help Demining. ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • The power of variable ratio reinforcement attracts and retains gamblers in a way blackjack, roulette, or craps do not.
    Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately for the Yanks, some reinforcements are expected back before Judge’s unspecified return.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Over the last four years, the Clark County Coroner’s Office, with the assistance of police and the FBI, has leveraged several types of technology trying to crack the cold case.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Residents with storm damage are being asked to call 311 to request cleanup assistance and help officials document the extent of the damage.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In the two years since the accident, Alicia, 35, has taken on the role of caregiver for her 37-year-old husband, supporting his therapy exercises, managing appointments and advocating for him within the medical system.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Immigration advocates’ concerns about this second contract announcement focussed on whether the organization was capable of filling that gap.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The approach could help these batteries store more energy while maintaining performance during rapid charging and discharging.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping previous head coach Brent Pry on staff as defensive coordinator will help maintain continuity on that side of the ball.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • North Korea’s willingness to sustain such losses reflects the reach of Russia’s global alliances and Moscow’s need for extra manpower.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The family’s attendance streak will become harder to sustain.
    Devon Henderson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • To reinforce its point, the North followed up Thursday with a barrage of about a dozen short-range ballistic missiles launched from around the capital, Pyongyang, eastward toward the sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Stick Velcro dots to the underside of the felt at the top and bottom, reinforcing the adhesive under the Velcro dots with a little bit of hot glue.
    Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Longer commutes, hills, uneven neighborhood streets, and weekend detours all make a stronger all-around bike easier to justify.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the film, the corporation constantly looks for ways to justify not making changes.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said NCSIST had already verified jamming capabilities for the newer frequency and would introduce them through future upgrades.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • To combat the risk of fraud, the Biden administration created a plan to verify SIV information of individuals who could have connections to employers later suspected of such schemes.
    Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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