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support

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verb

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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

3
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for pillars supporting the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
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
Shoes like the Under Armour Charged Running Shoes are made from lightweight mesh material with extra cushioning around the ankle for comfort and support. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025 But that direct support brought in via sponsorships is only a fraction of the billions that teams and leagues get because fans are betting on games. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Her performance also earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025 Mills also does not support ICE’s roundups throughout Chicago of people accused of being in the country illegally. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • Using deep reinforcement learning The new system uses deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to guide a robot, much like human hand-eye coordination.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Despite Pacheco being banged up, the Chiefs decided to stand pat at the deadline and not offer reinforcements for their star quarterback.
    Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • With the assistance of more than 400 philanthropic leaders and influential leaders, Power Lunch has raised over $33 million to date, to provide nourishing meals to New York City’s aging population.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The money, already earmarked for the county Public Health Department’s efforts to address food insecurity, will pay for thousands of meal boxes and other assistance, Bryant said.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of gathering experts who advocate for their functional perspective and then compromise, AI enables teams where each member can think holistically across functions.
    François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The veteran coach believes the solution to the problem is to cut some games off the 82-game schedule, a view shared by Cleveland Cavaliers coach (and former Kerr assistant) Kenny Atkinson, who recently advocated for a 72-game season.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Many chains are finding that fewer stores are better, and have been shutting down locations to maintain quality and brand congruence.
    Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in 2024—taking the White House, flipping the Senate and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong, how to rebuild, and party leadership and direction.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As national headlines rightfully celebrated Parks’ courage and the charismatic leadership of King in fomenting and sustaining the boycott, Gilmore continued to cook in quiet obscurity.
    Time, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The same principles of careful selection, consistent maintenance, and thorough training that sustained his fleet now guide his thinking about financial systems and education.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • China’s most powerful Communist leader in decades has built a reputation reinforced by state media during his 12-year rule as a serious and steady hand.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Completing each task gives your brain a small reward, reinforcing calm and focus when the kitchen gets hectic.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Critics also question whether demand will continue to grow at a fast enough pace to justify the investment.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Some investors are also skeptical whether future profit growth will continue to justify the enormous amounts of spending taking place.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Tested for real-world conditions Before shipboard testing, the team verified performance using a full-scale simulation facility measuring 25 by 5 by 5 meters.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Drivers should verify what’s excluded — particularly glass coverage, rental reimbursement, and uninsured-motorist protection.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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