Synonyms of advocate

advocate 1 of 2

noun

ˈad-və-kət 

1

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause

Mark Twain, Noah Webster, and President Theodore Roosevelt are among past advocates of a reformed spelling system

Synonyms & Similar Words

• proponent
• supporter
• advocator
• exponent
• promoter
• champion
• friend
• apostle
• booster
• protagonist
• white knight
• expounder
• paladin
• true believer
• high priest
• herald
• hierophant
• tub-thumper
• espouser
• stalwart
• adherent
• interpreter
• loyalist
• backer
• disciple
• gospeler
• cheerleader
• encourager
• follower
• partisan
• cohort
• fellow traveler
• applauder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adversary
• opponent
• antagonist
• enemy
• foe
• critic
• rival
• faultfinder
• belittler

2

as in lawyer

a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations

with such a strong case against him, he's going to need the best advocate that money can buy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lawyer
• attorney
• counselor
• counsel
• solicitor
• attorney-at-law
• counselor-at-law
• prosecutor
• jurist
• legislator
• legal eagle
• prosecuting attorney
• district attorney
• trial lawyer
• mouthpiece
• criminal lawyer
• cocounsel
• lawmaker
• public defender
• shyster
• lawgiver
• Philadelphia lawyer
• ambulance chaser
• solon
• pettifogger

advocate

2 of 2

verb

ˈad-və-ˌkāt 

as in to endorse

to promote the interests or cause of

environmentalists advocating agricultural methods designed to slow the destruction of rain forests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• endorse
• support
• adopt
• champion
• embrace
• patronize
• help
• assist
• back
• stand up for
• aid
• go in for
• stick up for
• plump (for)
• hold a brief for
• plunk (for)
• reinforce
• preach
• espouse
• go to bat for
• plonk (for)
• save
• forward
• bolster
• abet
• rescue
• buttress
• side (with)
• further
• second
• advance
• backstop
• prop (up)
• boost
• bail out
• plug
• talk up
• deliver

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• oppose
• interfere
• thwart
• frustrate
• sabotage
• fail
• foil
• let down
• baffle
• disappoint
• desert

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of advocate are back, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of advocate?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can champion be used instead of advocate?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When is support a more appropriate choice than advocate?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to advocate?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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

Some common synonyms of advocate are back, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of advocate?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can champion be used instead of advocate?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When is support a more appropriate choice than advocate?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to advocate?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of advocate

Noun

Los Angeles is changing César Chávez Day to Farm Worker’s Day, while some advocates, including former farmworkers, are asking that Chávez be replaced with Dolores Huerta, the civil rights leader who fought alongside the man who allegedly raped her. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026

The lone Republican was Merritt Farren, a 65-year-old media and technology attorney who lost his home in last year’s Palisades fire, and became an advocate while fighting State Farm’s controversial rate hike request. —Pat Maio, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026

Verb

Orbán has been actively engaged in this battle, fighting against liberal democracy and the rule of law, advocating for authoritarian populism and one-party rule. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Despite the national angst over property taxes, few political leaders or citizens are advocating their immediate elimination. —Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026

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