BACK Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'back' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate , champion , support , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

Q: When can 'advocate' be used instead of 'back'?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: Where would 'champion' be a reasonable alternative to 'back'?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When might 'support' be a better fit than 'back'?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

Q: When is it sensible to use 'uphold' instead of 'back'?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

back 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of back next

as in ago

earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hence

as in around

toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in backwards

toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak

as in rear

a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jugular

a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

back

3 of 4

verb

as in to advocate

to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to aid

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reinforce

to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind

being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Examples 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 back

Adverb

As does the dynamic running back tandem of James Basinger and Mark Snyder, who have combined for 40 rushing TDs. —

Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024 Going up against the Wizards, Golden State should be able to ease him back into the rotation. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

Keith McNally is sitting at a table in the back with his laptop, receiving visitors. —

Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024 The Commanders are adding one of the premier defensive backs in the NFL to a 7-2 team that's soaring with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The two companies will be at this year’s AFM to share the project as part of Spanish Screenings on Tour, a promotional program backed by European Recovery funds. —

Jamie Lang, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024 Next year the Toronto Film Festival, backed by a healthy eight-figure sum from the Canadian government, will launch its own fall film market. —

Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

There’s also a closet area approximately the size of my first apartment — and out on the back terrace is the main event: A woodburning hot tub with a view of the verdant hillside that will leave you breathless. —

Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024 On December 16, 1859, Wilhelm died, at the age of seventy-three, following complications from back surgery. —

Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for back

Recent Examples of Synonyms for back

Adverb

Bernal is also geared up to revive neighborhood watch programs, which had around 200 groups at one point, but the numbers have dwindled over the years with less than a dozen left.

Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
The extended stretch of freezing temperatures contributed to a devastating Lakewood apartment fire on Friday morning, which sparked around 5 a.m. by a space heater set up to keep pipes from freezing.

Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024