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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
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
Noun
  • More than half the population is estimated to need humanitarian assistance because of surging gang violence amid deepening poverty and hunger.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The organization provides resources, education and other assistance from the idea phase to scaling up phase, Swaney said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
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
Verb
  • Furnace monitoring and high-temperature measurement systems, for example, require optical windows that can maintain their performance while allowing sensors or cameras to observe processes taking place at elevated temperatures.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • During that time, legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer made the Hokies a brand on the national stage, while UVA struggled to maintain relevancy in the ACC.
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There is no sign yet of Tzimas returning from an anterior cruciate knee ligament rupture sustained on his first league start against Aston Villa last December.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire campaign after sustaining a major right knee injury a half hour into his first training camp session.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The act of retrieving information can help reinforce learning.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Thanks to the support of Canadian agencies, these teams might very well achieve this goal, reinforcing the transatlantic collaborations between European and Canadian animation industries.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Italian Interior Ministry used that same threat to justify extending the border checks Tuesday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • First-act setups extend through the majority of the 108-minute runtime, constituting a plotless meander without the aesthetic allure to justify such a languid journey.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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