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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

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
O'Connor told CyberGuy that Android support is planned but not available yet. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Only 11 received enough support to qualify for a ballot and six officials have been recalled including the most recent in 2018. Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
Niacinamide lends an extra soothing boost, while the brand’s proprietary postbiotic, Aqua Posae Filiformis, supports the skin microbiome—important for keeping the barrier balanced. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026 Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour Saturday — possibly solo — after all his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • This type of reinforcement can not only disrupt barking at that moment but also decrease unwanted behaviors.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The work demonstrates a way to combine a renewable waste material with nanoscale reinforcement rather than simply substituting one material for another.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Saudi Arabia also is running low on interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for assistance as its standoff with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on.
    Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Others, such as Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia, have refused to provide Kyiv with direct military assistance.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In her interview with AP, Mohammadi -- who has been jailed repeatedly over decades of advocating for human rights and was behind bars when she was awarded the Nobel Prize -- described her most recent arrest, detention and health.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Detention was ‘life-threatening’ Mohammadi, 54, who has been jailed repeatedly over decades of advocating for human rights and was behind bars when she was awarded the Nobel Prize, described her most recent arrest, detention and health.
    Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Trump met with her last night as Washington maintains political pressure on Venezuela to enact reforms.
    Adrienne Vogt, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Most places of worship built after 1905, including most mosques, are financed and maintained by religious organizations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Go Green tours allow passengers to learn the ways local communities and industries endeavor to conserve, sustain, and elevate their environments.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Over time, that consistency becomes trust—and trust is what sustains long-term client relationships.
    Steven Boydstun, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Mazzagatti emphasized that decarbonization and energy security must reinforce each other, noting that modular nuclear power can support both legacy industrial plants and the soaring energy appetites of modern computing.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That will help reinforce the movie as a filmmaking experience, and not as only a Cruise vehicle.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The questions to answer The FDA laid out key questions for the committee to answer about Galleri, centered on whether the clinical data show the test detects cancers reliably and early enough to justify use of such terms in its marketing.
    Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Meloni’s government argues that rising electricity demand, climate targets and energy security concerns exposed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine justify bringing nuclear energy back into the country’s power mix.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This one was shaped by Week 1 results, which seemed to verify that the rebuilding Dolphins are bad, while greatly elevating estimation of the Niners.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Our report found that only 26% of embellishment cases are ever verified and found to contain a discrepancy.
    Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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