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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
For Access program, with support from the Walmart Foundation, SNAP benefit recipients can buy tickets for $1. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025 Online, however, support poured in for the guest. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
She was honored with the CBC Body Award, which recognizes an individual for their exceptional work in promoting policies and creating opportunities that support the empowerment of the Black community. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2025 Ticket purchases support Global Citizen’s mission to end extreme poverty and protect the Amazon rainforest. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • Creating a routine and sticking to it can help the dog know what to expect and when, and they should be rewarded with positive reinforcement wherever possible, according to a report from Dogs Trust.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The Panthers might be able to bring back some notable reinforcements following Sunday’s blowout loss against the New England Patriots.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For the last 45 years, the CRC has assisted people facing hunger, homelessness and trauma, offering services like the shelter, a food pantry, counseling, housing assistance and more.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Launched in October 2024 as a pilot effort, the H2O initiative provides transitional housing assistance, move-in support, home modifications and case management to help individuals with serious mental illness stay in stable housing and on treatment plans.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The commonwealth has been without an operational freestanding birthing center since the 1980s, said Mary Kathryn DeLodder, director of the Kentucky Birth Coalition — a grassroots organization that led the charge in advocating for legislation loosening regulations for the facilities.
    Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Ascension Saint Thomas President and CEO Fahad Tahir is among many local health care leaders advocating for Congress to extend the tax credits.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Combs maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the five counts brought against him.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Both sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police told Fox19.
    Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Some mentioned not being offered much guidance regarding how to communicate with the adoptive parents or sustain a healthy open-adoption relationship.
    Nicole Chung, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Pettersson’s sturdy performances over the weekend, and the fact that the club gave him a lengthy look on Sunday on the right side, would seem to have reinforced his incumbency in the battle for a spot in the opening-night lineup.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On September 24, Judge Smith permanently enjoined DHS from enforcing broad new immigration compliance conditions on a wide range of preparedness grants, ruling the agency had exceeded its statutory authority and failed to justify departing from longstanding grant practices.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Among customers and in financial markets, skepticism is rising as some question whether the massive investment in AI will ever be justified by revenues.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Vanderbilt hospital is the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center within 150 miles, the top designation verified by the American College of Surgeons for around-the-clock specialists, a high volume of trauma cases, robust research and quality patient care.
    Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on support

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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