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support

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verb

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as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of a young widow supporting a sick mother as well as two small children on a teacher's salary

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for pillars supporting the bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) studies that support the claim that red wine drinkers have a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of support are advocate, back, champion, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When could advocate be used to replace support?

While in some cases nearly identical to support, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would back be a reasonable alternative to support?

In some situations, the words back and support are roughly equivalent. However, 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 support?

The words champion and support 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 is it sensible to use uphold instead of support?

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

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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 support
Noun
During the annual Men's Day open streets event in Brooklyn last weekend, Mamdani failed to press the weight alone and required full bar support from a spotter. Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 National Education Association president Becky Pringle said the teacher and school support staff union is participating because educators feel a responsibility to speak up. Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
After Manatee County commissioners passed an impact fee increase in June — resulting in developers paying millions of dollars more to support infrastructure needs like roads, sewer and water utilities — local builders sued to block the measure. Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025 The reinforcements will join French and Italian aircraft already supporting Spanish operations. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • In the event of any late outgoings to Spain, or indeed other leagues whose windows stretch beyond September 1, those with a 7pm deadline today will not be granted the time to react with any last-minute reinforcements.
    Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
  • The key to improving recall in dachshunds is consistency, positive reinforcement, and keeping training sessions fun and rewarding.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • If people need assistance, can the Red Cross provide it?
    Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Senate President Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, was instrumental in getting assistance from the state, said Nelson Peacock, president of the Northwest Arkansas Council.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Among those who rejected the offer are the families of Tate Myre, an honors student, mentor to struggling kids and star athlete who died in the shooting; and of 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, a shy basketball and volleyball player, whose family has long advocated for the school’s accountability.
    Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Siebel Newsom spoke on a panel discussion Wednesday held by Common Sense Media, a main player in the fight for tech consumer protections, and Tech Oversight California, an extension of a D.C. outfit that advocates for technology regulation.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Turn down heat in Dutch oven to medium-low to maintain a simmer; cover with a lid (leaving a crack for steam), and cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
    John T. Edge, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile beyond the field, the team works to maintain focus, a difficult task considering their dominance and global popularity have earned them love and hate in equal measure.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Since the war, officials have suggested Israel would sustain what would amount to an air occupation of Iran.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Police reported that the woman sustained an injury under her left eye and was transported to a hospital.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than ignore human rights, the administration is twisting the concept in support of a political agenda that undermines equality, justice and human security in the world by reinforcing only the rights of the strong at the expense of the weak.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Economists hit the nail on the head with the latest U.S. inflation report, reinforcing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, a Republican who represents the far southeast corner of the county, has opposed the project, arguing Google will create too few jobs and pay too little in taxes to justify taking up nearly 470 acres of land.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Trump justified both sets of tariffs - as well as more recent tariffs - under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
    Dietrich Knauth, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Starvation stalks Gaza According to figures from Gaza's Health Ministry, verified by the World Health Organisation, deaths from malnutrition and starvation are spiking.
    Dawoud Abu Alkas, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 22 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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