Synonyms of upholds

upholds

verb

present tense third-person singular of uphold

1

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

• defends
• justifies
• maintains
• supports
• affirms
• asserts
• advocates
• proclaims
• confirms
• discusses
• sticks up for
• insists
• espouses
• stands up for
• emphasizes
• argues
• contends
• pleads
• professes
• vindicates
• claims
• states
• underlines
• underscores
• avers
• champions
• avows
• protests
• debates
• warrants
• stresses
• avouches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandons
• withdraws
• forsakes
• retracts
• reverses
• takes back
• switches
• abjures
• refutes
• recants
• disproves
• rebuts
• controverts

2

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

• sustains
• supports
• carries
• bolsters
• stays
• underpins
• undergirds
• bears
• shores (up)
• buttresses
• underlies
• braces
• steadies
• props (up)
• trusses

3

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

• lifts
• raises
• elevates
• uplifts
• heightens
• hoists
• boosts
• ups
• heaves
• takes up
• rises
• hikes
• ascends
• picks up
• perks (up)
• cranes
• hefts
• upraises
• mounts
• jacks (up)
• upends
• rears

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lowers
• falls
• drops
• descends
• pushes
• plunges
• slips
• bears
• dips
• presses
• depresses
• sinks
• pitches
• submerges

Example Sentences

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