Synonyms of upheld

upheld 1 of 2

adjective

as in uplifted

Related Words

• uplifted
• raised
• upraised
• overhead
• ascendant
• soaring
• overlooking
• ascending
• upper
• uppermost
• upward
• topmost
• elevated
• upmost
• high
• airy
• nosebleed

Dissimilar Words

• dropped
• low
• lowered
• grounded
• fallen
• descending
• down
• depressed
• sunken
• low-lying
• lowermost
• level
• even
• descendant
• undermost
• nethermost
• abreast

upheld

2 of 2

verb

past tense of uphold

1

as in defended

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections

determined to uphold her views in the face of all challenges

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defended
• justified
• maintained
• supported
• affirmed
• advocated
• asserted
• proclaimed
• confirmed
• stuck up for
• discussed
• championed
• stood up for
• stated
• vindicated
• insisted
• argued
• pleaded
• contended
• espoused
• emphasized
• protested
• claimed
• averred
• professed
• debated
• warranted
• underscored
• underlined
• avowed
• stressed
• avouched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandoned
• withdrew
• reversed
• retracted
• forsook
• switched
• recanted
• took back
• refuted
• abjured
• rebutted
• disproved
• controverted

2

as in sustained

to hold up or serve as a foundation for

an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sustained
• carried
• bolstered
• supported
• stayed
• buttressed
• braced
• underpinned
• propped (up)
• bore
• undergirded
• steadied
• trussed
• shored (up)
• underlay

3

as in lifted

to move from a lower to a higher place or position

worshippers upheld their joined hands and sang the praises of the Lord

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lifted
• raised
• elevated
• hoisted
• uplifted
• heightened
• boosted
• heaved
• hiked
• took up
• upped
• picked up
• mounted
• upraised
• ascended
• rose
• hefted
• perked (up)
• craned
• jacked (up)
• reared
• upended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropped
• lowered
• fell
• slipped
• pushed
• descended
• pressed
• bore
• plunged
• dipped
• pitched
• depressed
• sank
• submerged

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upheld

Adjective

In the accompanying photo, Fleetwood and his new bride, Elizabeth Jordan lean into one another, cheekily posing behind Fleetwood's upheld fedora. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026

Guest conductor Edward Gardner, principal conductor of the London Philharmonic, was obviously frustrated when even his upheld hands couldn’t stop the applause. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026

Verb

Their original claim was thus upheld; the error had only been in the implementation of the method, not the finding itself. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026

However, the West Berkshire Council had upheld the objections filed in February and, last month, rejected their appeal. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Last year, the California Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that denying educational employment opportunities to undocumented students is discriminatory — signaling to supporters that the bill had a chance. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

In a dangerous time, Heather Cox Richardson has upheld those values magnificently. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026

The court rejected Kalshi’s broad interpretation of the Commodity Exchange Act and upheld an order allowing Nevada to enforce its gambling regulations against Kalshi’s sports event contracts. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year a court in Hangzhou, a technology hub in eastern China, upheld a ruling in favor of a tech worker who had challenged his compensation package after being replaced by AI. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026

Greek courts have upheld the claim that extradition of Greek nationals is forbidden. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Lawyers in the Dabate case challenged the Fitbit evidence on reliability grounds, although the court upheld its admission after expert review. — Jihun Joun, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026