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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

The decisions prompted outrage on the island as federal support for solar projects fades. — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 These two forms of support suggested a normal pullback within a longer-term uptrend, with buyers stepping in near a key technical area. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Verb

Hinojosa previously supported some measures to attract data centers, but less aggressively than Abbott did. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 For years, many Mizrahi voters have traditionally supported Netanyahu’s Likud party. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for support

Recent Examples of Synonyms for support

Noun

The model generated driving trajectories with competitive benchmark performance, while reinforcement learning further improved its planning results.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Cronin and his staff added reinforcements in the backcourt after the departure of Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent to Louisiana State.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of reinforcement

Noun

Even with the assistance of his friend Sherri (Quinta Brunson) and Gary the intern (Yang), a hilariously snooty nepo hire, the Cat is in an impossible position — can his adventure with Gabby and Sebastian work in his favor?

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Petition training, legal assistance, voter registration, county committee organizing, and multilingual outreach gave emerging leaders the tools to compete.

— Joey Saban, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of assistance

Verb

One in five American adults has had an intimate encounter with AI, according to an MIT study, increasing the risk that some users believe AI is conscious and advocating for rights or moral status.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
As senator, Brown advocated for expanding and protecting Social Security benefits.

— Lorie Konish, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of advocate

Verb

However, Lelapo guests are not permitted to walk to Kapano or Dithaba, to maintain the exclusive, adults-only atmosphere.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Their magnets must maintain precise field configurations while withstanding substantial mechanical stresses.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of maintain

Verb

Four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, Losat said.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
The robot’s withdrawal also prompted discussion about the distinction between demonstrating mobility and sustaining it under demanding conditions.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of sustain

Verb

The formula is acidic and built around citric acid, which helps reinforce the bonds color services weaken, and leaves hair smoother and easier to manage.

— Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
Cook was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and continued her campaign through treatment, arguing her experience would reinforce her focus on affordable care access.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of reinforce

Verb

India has a strong structural growth story, but investors still need earnings growth to justify the valuation premium, Luchnikava-Schorsch said.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
And in each case the president attempted to explain and justify his policies—standards Trump has routinely failed to meet.

— Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

Lockheed Martin recently completed a push-through test to verify that PAC-3 MSE could pass through the Mk 41 canister without sustaining damage.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
These events show why countries need to share information quickly, verify travel histories and maintain contact tracing across borders.

— Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of verify

Browse Nearby Words

supplying

support

supportable

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of support

noun

verb

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