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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

In March 2024, hairline cracks began forming along the entire length of a support beam on the top floor. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026 The more people who can show love and support for the kids by donating time, talent or supplies like this, the better, said Mike Jessen, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Verb

The science did not support this view, but the market did, and so the messaging to and among parents gradually shifted. — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026 Relations and exchange programs between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying ammunitions and troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for support

Recent Examples of Synonyms for support

Noun

But when the margins are thin, the offensive reinforcements to supplement a young core are nonexistent, and the pressure is on, every mistake is costly.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Real-world robot dataset AGIBOT’s WORLD 2026 Theme 3 dataset initiative provides researchers with real-world robot experience data aimed at advancing reinforcement learning and embodied AI.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of reinforcement

Noun

Industries such as healthcare and social assistance (+28,400) continued to add jobs while local government education (+41,900 jobs) reversed a large loss from July (-57,500).

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
In mid-2025, for example, Congress clawed back nearly $8 billion in foreign assistance funds.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of assistance

Verb

Drivers appear to largely be on board, and fans have responded as well, even though many advocated for eliminating the end-of-season spotlight entirely in favor of a Premier League-style yearlong title race.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2026
However, a contingent of pro-autonomous vehicle backers, many from a group of 29 organizations that advocated on behalf of Waymo to the CPUC, celebrated the expansion ruling.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of advocate

Verb

To many in the LGBTQ+ community, the notion of unconditional love might as well be a fairy tale; meaningful relationships must be worked for, maintained, and protected—and as such, are rarely taken for granted.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
The bus tour is slated to stop in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Georgia, and North Carolina — states seen as crucial for Republicans to maintain Senate control in November.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of maintain

Verb

For crews responsible for sustaining the Minuteman III fleet, that capability could prove valuable as the system’s service life continues.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
The midfielder turned right-back sustained the damage during Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Chelsea after he was struck in the face by the ball.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of sustain

Verb

Leeds, their defence reinforced by the arrival of Tarik Muharemovic, look like a tough nut to crack.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Unlike ceramides, which reinforce the moisture barrier, or hyaluronic acid, which mainly hydrates at the surface, urea can moisturize and, at higher strengths, exfoliate dead skin cells.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of reinforce

Verb

On price hikes, analysts think that Apple needs to increase prices by as much as $100 in order to preserve profit margins and that the company's brand can justify this change in the eyes of customers.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
The latest proposal cites legal decisions and policies to justify the various changes.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

Consider a fraud alert A fraud alert asks lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
The recommendation also asks the board regulate agents for student-athletes, including by requiring a filing fee to register and be verified.

— Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of verify

Browse Nearby Words

supplying

support

supportable

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Style

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of support

noun

verb

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