Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of uphold are advocate, back, champion, and support. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

When is advocate a more appropriate choice than uphold?

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

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of uphold?

The meanings of back and uphold largely overlap; however, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When might champion be a better fit than uphold?

The synonyms champion and uphold are sometimes interchangeable, but champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

In what contexts can support take the place of uphold?

While in some cases nearly identical to uphold, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

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 uphold Supreme Court weighs constitutionality of conversation therapy ban Months after upholding a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, the Supreme Court is once again hearing arguments about LGBTQ+ rights that could have major ramifications on young people. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 In addition to supporting aid and assistance into Gaza, the troops are expected to support the deconfliction mechanism between the two sides to make sure both are upholding their part of the security agreements. Monica Alba, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025 Shortly after, Hayes’ mother asked the judge to uphold the original sentence. Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2025 In the Tatsuya Nagamine movie, Z is the name of an admiral who has sworn to destroy all the pirates of the New World, because of the pirates’ dream to have no leader, motivated only by their alliances that uphold the interests of every person and community. Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uphold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold
Verb
  • However, the time some birds took reacting to the sudden darkness could have been spent foraging for food, searching for mates or defending their territory, Aguilar said.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Schematically, Denver did a lot of stunting, tried out some zone looks and defended the ball more aggressively.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At some point during the standoff, an officer made entry into the home via a sliding glass door and sustained a laceration on his arm.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • That audience euphoria is welcome to De Luca and Abdy, who are the Hollywood comeback story of the year after sustaining earlier criticism over box office misses.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The fragrance opens with this bright, fizzy combination of raspberry, orange flower, and mandarin that immediately lifts your mood.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Eight, maybe nine years removed from swiping worms from the corner store and lifting loose change from cars in the mall parking lot.
    Allen Iverson, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The nonprofit museum maintains the property and educates the public on Fort Lauderdale’s rich — and relatively young — history.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Wisconsin lawmakers maintained state funding levels in the biennial budget passed this summer, but around $4 billion in federal low-income energy assistance funding is tied up in Congress amid a government shutdown.
    Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Bishop led Tennessee with 146 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 14 carries before leaving with a leg injury.
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In November, Jackson terminated Gatlin for swindling millions of dollars from the Foundation as executives privately reeled over her betrayal of the hospital system’s fundraising arm, which raises tens of millions to benefit Jackson’s patients.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Experts at Sweetbriar said the effort was not just about saving one insect but also about raising awareness.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Benefits and perks Like any travel card with a hefty annual fee, the Atmos Rewards Summit card has a mile-long list of perks that are designed to deliver value that easily justifies the yearly cost.
    David McMillin, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Ducati has just refreshed its Multistrada V4 Rally – the most off-road capable in its line of performance adventure touring motorcycles – after three years, with a bunch of tech upgrades to make long journeys more comfortable and justify the slightly higher sticker price.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Then layer the bulbs as described above, tossing organic fertilizer into the bottom of each layer to support root growth.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Survivors were referred to support services provided by agencies such as Health and Human Services to ensure long-term care and protection.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphold. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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