as in respect
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1
as in defending
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
determined to uphold her views in the face of all challenges
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2
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns
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3
as in lifting
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
worshippers upheld their joined hands and sang the praises of the Lord
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Recent Examples of upholding
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In addition, the NFL alleged that the report card surveys interfered with the union’s upholding of Article 39, Section 5, which mandates that the league and union jointly conduct an anonymous survey at least once every three years regarding players’ opinions on medical care and staff.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The murders of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson On December 12, 1998, a 21-year-old Lee walked into Jimmy’s Pawn Shop in Orville, Alabama, according to a 2013 federal appeals ruling upholding his conviction and sentence.
—Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Federal judges tasked with upholding the law now stand accused of skirting it in these three high-profile incidents this week.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 9 June 2026
The visit illustrates his balancing act of upholding centuries-old religious traditions in a country where faith is waning while reaching a global audience from a basilica that is more a magnet for tourists than believers.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Under pressure from the officer on the phone, Sandra, her fiancé, and other employees at the establishment are ordered to put Becky through a series of increasingly exploitative and humiliating experiences — all in the name of upholding the law.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Warsh at his swearing-in spoke positively about upholding both sides of the dual mandate.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Referee Dan Engler did not see Gunther’s foot under the rope, and Gunther protested despite Engler upholding the decision.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Hunter left in early 2024 to open his own venture and Bradyn Kawcak stepped in as executive chef, successfully upholding Atelier’s one Michelin star.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Noun
Protecting judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and court staff is fundamental to guaranteeing access to justice, judicial independence, and the upholding of the democratic order.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In addition, the NFL alleged that the report card surveys interfered with the union’s upholding of Article 39, Section 5, which mandates that the league and union jointly conduct an anonymous survey at least once every three years regarding players’ opinions on medical care and staff.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
There are no majorities for anything, least of all for upholding the rights of the freed slaves in the South.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The murders of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson On December 12, 1998, a 21-year-old Lee walked into Jimmy’s Pawn Shop in Orville, Alabama, according to a 2013 federal appeals ruling upholding his conviction and sentence.
—Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Federal judges tasked with upholding the law now stand accused of skirting it in these three high-profile incidents this week.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 9 June 2026
The visit illustrates his balancing act of upholding centuries-old religious traditions in a country where faith is waning while reaching a global audience from a basilica that is more a magnet for tourists than believers.
—ABC News, 9 June 2026
Under pressure from the officer on the phone, Sandra, her fiancé, and other employees at the establishment are ordered to put Becky through a series of increasingly exploitative and humiliating experiences — all in the name of upholding the law.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Warsh at his swearing-in spoke positively about upholding both sides of the dual mandate.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Referee Dan Engler did not see Gunther’s foot under the rope, and Gunther protested despite Engler upholding the decision.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Hunter left in early 2024 to open his own venture and Bradyn Kawcak stepped in as executive chef, successfully upholding Atelier’s one Michelin star.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upholding
Noun
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But a little preparation and a healthy respect for wildlife can make all the difference between a great story to tell and a story that ends up on the evening news.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Horror still fights for respect, box office success still gets dismissed as commercial rather than artistic, and a movie made by a YouTube creator will face every condescension the awards ecosystem can muster.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The Inter Miami captain scored a hat trick for defending World Cup champion Argentina in a 3-0 rout of Algeria in their tournament opener.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
But Cape Verde simply did not wilt in a solid, switched-on 4-5-1 defensive shape, compressing space between the lines and defending heroically in their own penalty area to keep the European Champions at bay, and committing only one foul in the process — the fewest ever recorded in a World Cup game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
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In an encouraging sign, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane will be a limited participant in practice Thursday, five days after sustaining a rib injury in the Jets game.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
11 Dec. 2025
-
United were, critically, without their No 1 goalkeeper, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, for the final three matches due to the USWNT goalkeeper sustaining a fractured eye socket.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Immediately after signing this MoU, the US will begin lifting its maritime blockade, and will bring shipping to full capacity within a maximum of 30 days.—
Salma El Wardany,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
-
Video taken by a member of the audience shows Swift rising from her seat and lifting her arms high above her head to give an enthusiastic standing ovation during the curtain call.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Pro leagues and players’ unions negotiate disciplinary, eligibility and anti-gambling rules, disputes over which are resolved via grievance and arbitration procedures and, when litigated, are given high deference by judges.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
-
The service ethos is more discreet deference than chatty confidence.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting rebels in the resource-rich eastern DRC, and fighting has escalated ahead of the meeting, highlighting the difficulty of reaching — and maintaining — truces, even if overseen by the US president.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Since approximately 70% of your immune cells are located in the gut, maintaining a healthy microbiome is crucial for overall immunity.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
From there, those carotenoids can shuttle around your body, supporting your health.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
9 Dec. 2025
-
It is slated to begin as a permanent base at the moon’s south pole and eventually expand into a network of orbital and surface facilities supporting exploration, resource extraction, and long-term habitation.—
ELIZABETH ECONOMY,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Those insights are raising important questions about how these tools should be used and where their limitations lie.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Could the depletion prompt a market panic, raising prices even higher?—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upholding. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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