as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something
scientists looking for direct supporting evidence of microscopic black holes, the existence of which is theoretical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in advocating
to promote the interests or cause of
though childless themselves, they support the local schools both by volunteering and by fiercely opposing funding cuts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in keeping
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 sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
pillars supporting the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in reinforcing
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
5
as in defending
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in verifying
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of
new evidence supports the original researchers' unexpected conclusions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in assisting
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
sent reinforcements to support the troops deployed overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in tolerating
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 supporting
Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 2026
The As Ever founder stepped out for a surprise Paris Fashion Week appearance, supporting her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli at his Balenciaga debut swathed in a dramatic white cape.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Manteca is launching a pilot program that is aimed at helping entrepreneurs, supporting local small businesses and showcasing the variety of food the city has to offer.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Unions and businesses Brin’s committee is also supporting a proposal from the California Chamber of Commerce to overhaul of the California Environmental Quality Act, a significant law that requires environmental review and public input on new development and infrastructure projects.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Konstantine Anthony, a DSA member and Burbank City Council member who gathered signatures to reopen the endorsement window, is supporting Huang.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
After most of those incidents, ABC and Warners have vowed to do a better job vetting contestants and tightening up other procedures before cameras rolled and supporting their newly famous alumni afterward.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
The military says some 50,000 are supporting the war effort.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The 14ers are the supporters group of Summit FC, comprising of about 350 fans who are focused on supporting, engaging, and growing Colorado’s community of pro women’s soccer fans.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
It’s made with 96% snail secretion filtrate, a humectant-rich ingredient known for calming irritation, fading post-acne marks, and supporting skin repair.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 2026
The As Ever founder stepped out for a surprise Paris Fashion Week appearance, supporting her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli at his Balenciaga debut swathed in a dramatic white cape.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Manteca is launching a pilot program that is aimed at helping entrepreneurs, supporting local small businesses and showcasing the variety of food the city has to offer.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Unions and businesses Brin’s committee is also supporting a proposal from the California Chamber of Commerce to overhaul of the California Environmental Quality Act, a significant law that requires environmental review and public input on new development and infrastructure projects.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Konstantine Anthony, a DSA member and Burbank City Council member who gathered signatures to reopen the endorsement window, is supporting Huang.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
After most of those incidents, ABC and Warners have vowed to do a better job vetting contestants and tightening up other procedures before cameras rolled and supporting their newly famous alumni afterward.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026
The military says some 50,000 are supporting the war effort.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
The 14ers are the supporters group of Summit FC, comprising of about 350 fans who are focused on supporting, engaging, and growing Colorado’s community of pro women’s soccer fans.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
-
Republicans are, for the most part, supportive of transgender policies Trump has asked them to tack on as well, one that would restrict surgeries for minors and another preventing biological males from competing in women’s sports.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The end result, however, has been manufacturing jobs spread across the nation, a tried-and-true approach to keep members of Congress supportive of expensive projects.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wolf, who serves as president of AFGE TSA Local 1127, is hesitant to walk away from both the job that turned her life around and her role advocating for fellow officers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Now, Nathan Willett, who represents District 1 on the Kansas City Council, is advocating for more women-only restrooms in the airport.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bulls players stopped keeping a keen eye on the standings after going winless in February.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Maintaining adequate nutrition during cancer treatment is important for sustaining strength, minimizing side effects and supporting the best treatment response possible.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
While the potential for a particularly dangerous fire season exists, it is not guaranteed, because the weather during the spring and summer months plays a large role in triggering blazes and sustaining them.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The team further enhanced performance by modifying the SMP’s chemical composition and reinforcing it with carbon fibers to improve stiffness and durability.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
-
OpenAI is battling more than a dozen different death and harm suits, including one centered on a tragic murder-suicide allegedly spurred by ChatGPT reinforcing an unstable man’s paranoid delusions.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tech companies are used to defending their systems against hackers.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The debate sponsors released a joint statement on Friday defending their decision.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The employee gave that stack back to Elliott after counting and verifying it.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
These materials are known for their strength at high temperatures, but verifying the quality of the welds between them remained a gap.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Police were already on the scene assisting with evacuations.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The City of White Settlement said approximately 150 residents are displaced, and the Red Cross is assisting.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Supporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supporting. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
