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 In reality, for decades Netanyahu has upheld Israel's policy of ambiguity. MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 For example, the court in January upheld a law aimed at banning TikTok just weeks after the social media giant appealed a lower court’s ruling. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Last week, an appeals court affirmed Chen’s authority, upheld his March order and ruled that Homeland Security had improperly ended the protections. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 Brett Korte, an attorney with Clean Wisconsin, said lawmakers over decades have created rules to protect Wisconsin water and the DNR must uphold those protections. Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uphold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold
Verb
  • But the way Herbert flashed early in his career, tossing seven touchdown passes and only one interception in a 2021 season sweep of the defending AFC champion Chiefs, had come to feel like a tease.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Responding to Joe Starnes, a Democratic congressman from Alabama, Flanagan proved to be a tough witness and defended the project as being a cure for American inactivity.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Alabama defensive tackle Jeremiah Beaman is likely out for the season after sustaining a lower-body injury at Wednesday’s practice, coach Kalen DeBoer said on his radio show Wednesday night.
    Matthew Ho, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The warning forecasts sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, in the range of 34 knots (39 mph) to 47 knots (54 mph), either predicted or occurring, and not directly associated with a tropical cyclone, the NWS glossary explains.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro Just like the original Roborock Qrevo Curv that debuted at last year’s IFA, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro has wheels that can lift the robot's chassis high enough to clear obstacles and thresholds.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The commercial arm has helped the players union become one of the most in-demand player collectives in sports, with merchandise sales projected to lift 115% this year (year-over-year).
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The couple recently came under much media scrutiny when Abby and her conjoined twin sister, Brittany, both 35, were spotted carrying a newborn baby while running errands last month.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The deal, brokered after a standoff between state and county officials resulting from a disagreement over whether to raise assessments this year, means homeowners will see a nearly 7% increase above their 2024 property valuation.
    Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The Bundy family said information about the object removed from Ryan Bundy’s arm could raise more questions in the incident.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Businesses can and should use catastrophe models themselves to establish baseline risk profiles, stress-test scenarios, quantify protection gaps, and justify resilience investments.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Some are too flashy, while others look too plain to justify the price tag.
    Amina Ayoud, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The red edges and soft fabric give them an elegant look while their memory foam insole keeps feet supported and comfortable with every step.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • For Jamaica, how and where field event athletes can be better supported, and, for governing bodies, whether multiple medallists moving from one country to another at once sets another bad precedent.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphold. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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