Synonym Chooser

How is the word uphold different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of uphold are advocate, back, champion, and support. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

When is advocate a more appropriate choice than uphold?

While the synonyms advocate and uphold are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of uphold?

The meanings of back and uphold largely overlap; however, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When might champion be a better fit than uphold?

The synonyms champion and uphold are sometimes interchangeable, but champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

In what contexts can support take the place of uphold?

While in some cases nearly identical to uphold, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

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 uphold The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025 By leading with transparency, empathy and action, organizations can uphold their values and set the stage for future resilience and growth. Tony Butler-Sims, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 One of the best ways to uphold network connectivity is to have multiple backup services in place that activate in the event of an outage. Sander Barens, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 The justices ruled 7-2 to uphold a Biden administration rule that regulates unserialized firearms called ghost guns. Melissa Quinn june 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for uphold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold
Verb
  • Thanks to the oceans on either side of us, the frozen wasteland to the north, and a gentle behemoth to the south, no one thought much about having to defend our borders.
    Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025
  • The medium-to-long-range layer, David’s Sling, has replaced Patriot batteries supplied by the United States, defending against both aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles using a missile called Stunner.
    Sebastien Roblin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Ukraine's General Staff said last week that Russian forces have sustained over 1,010,000 casualties—killed and wounded—since the start of the full-scale invasion.
    Dan Gooding Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • But the big question remains: can an affiliate model sustain a platform of this depth?
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Sealing your grout is a great way to prevent further staining and using a steam cleaner can help to lift the stains.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • The perpetrator has been banned indefinitely from all major league venues, but the incident has sparked a massive debate about how athletes are treated by the public, particularly since 2018, when the Supreme Court lifted a 1992 federal law prohibiting single-game wagering.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • While relationships — particularly those with elements of the fanbase — were fractured by the time of Messi’s departure in the summer of 2025, sources close to the French club — who will remain anonymous to protect relationships — maintain there are no regrets over his signing.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Yet, their constant presence helped maintain urgency of the change process.
    IESE Business School, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The surprise vote, and ensuing ceasefire, puts in sharp relief the global importance of the narrow strait between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, which carries 20% of global oil production.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 23 June 2025
  • On Sunday, two supertankers—each carrying up to 2 million barrels—turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites raised fears of commercial shipping being targeted, Bloomberg reported.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Weil raised around $15 million, with the majority of it coming from donations that were $200 or less.
    Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
  • Eight steel lifting straps were used to put the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water Saturday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • In our opinion, this favorable trend justifies an upward revision of its valuation multiple.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The midfielder has arguably had to fight even harder to begin to justify the energy and expense required to bring him to Stamford Bridge two and a half years ago.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Those using it can sit upright, sit cross-legged, lean back, sit diagonally so the hammock fabric supports their legs, and otherwise move and contort into various positions for extra comfort.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 June 2025
  • Adding native plants to existing garden beds is a simple way to boost curb appeal while supporting pollinators and improving soil health.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphold. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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