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

Last year, the Supreme Court struck its first blow against transgender rights by upholding a Tennessee law banning transgender care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

The opinions, which neither justice is expected to discuss in their testimony, included a ruling upholding the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, which Trump sought to undercut with an executive order. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 7 July 2026

The circuit court granted the charging orders, upholding the prior alter ego determination. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

The court affirmed its prior ruling upholding New York’s ban on religious exemptions to its law requiring schoolchildren be vaccinated. — Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 2 July 2026

Impeaching judges, sterilizing foreign visitors, dissolving the union – some prominent conservatives suggested extreme measures could be called for in the wake of a Supreme Court decision upholding birthright citizenship. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 1 July 2026

The global brand is very focused on wellness, and this property is steadfast in upholding the theme. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

The high court ruled that state bans on trans athletes participating in women's and girls' sports do not violate Title IX, upholding the bans passed in those states. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 1 July 2026

The church plans to continue upholding core Baptist principles, including congregational autonomy free from a hierarchy, a free pulpit and religious freedom, Hudson said. — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026