supporting 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

supporting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of support
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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
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

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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
Adjective
The incredible supporting cast is made up entirely of old-hand character actors, promising but underknown newcomers, and comedy- or comedy-adjacent figures with passionate niche followings and Gumby-esque limbs. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026 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
Kenneth Dale Richardson was arrested by Lewisville police in the 1200 block of northbound Interstate Highway 35 East after a witness called to report a reckless driver, according to an affidavit supporting the arrest. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 There’s no new scientific information supporting that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul champions. Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Completed in 2008, this conversion transformed it into one of only four Ohio-class submarines made to carry huge numbers of precision-strike weapons, while also supporting special operation missions. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026 With purposeful application, this kitchen ingredient can become essential for supporting your tomatoes. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026 In 2023, Tara founded Missing Link, an organization focused on supporting the families of the missing. Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 29 July 2026 Fresh off Jensen Huang sharing an open letter supporting open source last week, and the quasi-response from Anthropic's Dario Amodei, a pair of fresh missives made the rounds Tuesday. Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Communication Shapes Business Outcomes Communication is often viewed as a supporting function within organizations. Tavares Beverly, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 This was actually permitted at the British Academy previously, most notably when Margot Robbie received two supporting actress nominations in 2020, but was banned following a major review that followed. Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
  • If your style leans a bit more sporty, this supportive shoe is an easy pick.
    Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
  • Today, Daley is two years into recovery, has reconnected with his daughter and lives at Sun Rose Apartments, an 82-unit permanent supportive housing community.
    Conor McGill, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Mark Zuckerberg published an op-ed advocating for the widespread distribution of superintelligence, arguing that concentrating it in a few institutions poses the greatest risk.
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Steffen has been a vocal supporter of Sarnecki’s campaign and regularly posts online advocating for Sarnecki and critiquing Masterson.
    Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Geared toward longer stays and keeping road warriors happy, the hotel offers a grab-and-go pantry, an evening happy hour with wine, beer, and light bites, and a buffet breakfast.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
  • In addition, Begnaud spent a number of years creating charcuterie boards for friends and family while keeping notes about how to turn these creations into a business someday.
    Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The company pointed to research from the UK AI Security Institute showing that advanced models are increasingly capable of sustaining complex, multi-step cyber operations over extended periods.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • It is found in building the enduring capacity of leaders and teams to adapt while sustaining performance.
    Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Notably, American family offices themselves actually increased home-country allocation from 86% to 88%, reinforcing Patterson’s diversification framing over one of outright flight.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Rather than concentrating education at a single point in time, scaffolding supports individuals through a sequence of decisions, building understanding gradually and reinforcing it in context.
    Debby Moorman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • Reports of a Funding Shortfall After months of silence, Romanian media reported in June that the Romanian state did not have sufficient funds to proceed with defending Barbosu's case at CAS.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The case has drawn political reactions from across the spectrum, with opposition politicians demanding full accountability and members of the governing coalition defending the officers involved.
    Reuters, NBC news, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Customers who aren't Caniac Club members can join by visiting any location and requesting a Caniac Club card, then registering and verifying their email address.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 25 July 2026
  • Audits conducted in every state uncovered numerous non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s work permits had expired or were issued without properly verifying their citizenship status.
    Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Ukraine also accused Russia of assisting Iran with satellite surveillance of US bases.
    J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 26 July 2026
  • The company focuses on assisting individuals and small businesses with at least $10,000 in tax debt through a mix of IRS resolution programs and ongoing tax compliance services.
    Adam Palasciano, USA Today, 25 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Supporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supporting. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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