Thesaurus

support

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

noun

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Synonyms & Antonyms of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 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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shoring

bearing

2 an act or instance of helping

the team's victory owes a lot to Joe's strong support in left field

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Antonyms for support

hindrance

support

verb

Synonyms & Antonyms of support (Entry 2 of 2)

1 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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2 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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3 to hold up or serve as a foundation for

pillars supporting the bridge

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4 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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5 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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6 to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of

new evidence supports the original researchers' unexpected conclusions

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7 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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sustain

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Antonyms for support

hinder

8 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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reconcile (to)

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Frequently Asked Questions About support

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