UPHOLDS Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

upholds

verb

present tense third-person singular of uphold

as in defends

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sustains

to hold up or serve as a foundation for an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in lifts

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 upholds In February, President Pamela Whitten and the board of trustees supported and adopted the Chicago Principles, a set of guidelines regarding how the university upholds its free speech environment. — Cate Charron, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2026 The letter was also sent to Harry and Meghan’s team and upholds Queen Elizabeth’s wishes when Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in 2020. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026 The ruling Wednesday by a Cole County judge upholds a decision by Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who had blocked the amendment from the November ballot despite thousands of petition signatures for it. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 If the District Court upholds the denial, your application is considered exhausted. — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026 For many, this new-build option upholds preferential aesthetics while satisfying practical needs and eliminating restoration headaches. — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 20 July 2026 The ruling essentially upholds similar bans enacted in 25 other states. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 The ruling upholds laws in 30 states that allow at least some ballots to arrive after Election Day, including ballots from military voters and Americans who live overseas. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 One ruling upholds a landmark case dealing with press freedom. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upholds

Verb

Coach Hudson defends Ricky to Gerry’s face, but privately lectures his daughter about the optics of their close relationship as a female football coach and tells her to put some space between her and Chad (and unknowingly, Russ).

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
In relation to what one longs for, questions, resists, imagines, or defends.

— Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of defends

Verb

Supported by Waugh’s muscular direction, Wilson and Ritchson work well together in a chase film whose thinly sketched premise barely sustains its wall-to-wall action sequences.

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Overnight oats have more protein, which aids muscle repair and sustains energy levels.

— Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of sustains

Verb

The company sees the rocket becoming a workhorse launcher of small to medium-size satellites down the road, and its infrastructure supports that vision.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
No data show salt crystals shift serotonin or cortisol, and no evidence supports magnesium absorption through the soles of the feet.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of supports

Verb

An Indian institution that’s built its operations around a foreign foundation model has no real recourse if that vendor raises prices, withdraws the model, hits new export restrictions or gets caught in a geopolitical dispute over chip access.

— Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Israel, like many countries, raises money by selling bonds to investors, who then receive repayments with interest after a specified time period.

— Sharon Udasin, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of raises

Verb

Accessibility The Bedford Post Inn maintains one ADA-compliant guest room.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
With a celebrity roster that includes Rami Malek, Emilia Clarke, Maria Bello, Chris Weitz, Elijah Wood, Sonya Walger and Dan O’Shannon, Hohnen maintains a keen read on the zeitgeist.

— Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026