Synonyms of upholding

upholding 1 of 2

noun

as in respect

Related Words

• respect
• deference
• adherence
• honor
• compliance
• regard
• conformity
• keeping
• conformance
• observance
• observation
• obedience
• acquiescence
• surrender
• submission
• abidance
• attendance
• accession
• attention
• heed
• notice

Dissimilar Words

• violation
• breach
• infringement
• ignoring
• contravention
• disregard
• trespass
• transgression
• infraction
• forgetting
• neglect
• nonobservance
• delinquency
• offense
• challenge
• sin
• dereliction
• defiance
• overlooking
• wrong
• rebellion
• brush-off
• flouting

upholding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uphold

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defending
• maintaining
• justifying
• supporting
• advocating
• affirming
• asserting
• proclaiming
• championing
• confirming
• discussing
• sticking up for
• vindicating
• standing up for
• insisting
• espousing
• stating
• emphasizing
• protesting
• arguing
• pleading
• claiming
• contending
• professing
• debating
• averring
• warranting
• stressing
• underscoring
• underlining
• avowing
• avouching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandoning
• withdrawing
• forsaking
• reversing
• retracting
• taking back
• switching
• abjuring
• recanting
• refuting
• disproving
• rebutting
• controverting

2

as in sustaining

to hold up or serve as a foundation for

an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sustaining
• supporting
• carrying
• bolstering
• staying
• underpinning
• buttressing
• bracing
• bearing
• undergirding
• underlying
• propping (up)
• shoring (up)
• steadying
• trussing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lifting
• raising
• elevating
• hoisting
• uplifting
• heightening
• boosting
• upping
• hiking
• heaving
• taking up
• craning
• rising
• ascending
• jacking (up)
• hefting
• mounting
• upraising
• picking up
• perking (up)
• upending
• rearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lowering
• falling
• dropping
• descending
• pushing
• slipping
• plunging
• dipping
• bearing
• pressing
• pitching
• sinking
• depressing
• submerging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upholding

Noun

Service, intentionally or not, leaves a wide, wild path for a person to project onto the journey, the setting, the suffering of discomforts, the upholding of promise, their close relationship. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

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

In April, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding an arbitrator’s findings that the union may follow the card-signing process as a path to represent the workers. — Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Rubio visited Portugal a day after delivering a speech in the Greek capital, Athens, urging European countries to save Western civilization by upholding the values and traditions of ancient Greece. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Providing clear, consistent guidance allows players to express themselves while upholding the principles of sportsmanship that have long been a hallmark of NFL football. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Kathleen Lord-Jones, an aviation cabin safety expert from Robson Forensic, explained the meticulous process of upholding food safety practices, from kitchen to tray table. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2026

And neither were the co-hosts, who felt their fun, feel-good, not-that-serious event was suddenly being accused of upholding white supremacy. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Organizers describe the demonstrations as nonviolent and focused on upholding democratic principles. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026

In a statement to CBS News Bay Area, a Terminix spokesperson said the company was committed to protecting communities and upholding strict environmental governance across its operations. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Filmmaking as a frictionless capitalist business model is a more overbearing idea than ever and artists upholding personal values exist within a hostile environment. — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026