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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
Country singer Craig Morgan shares two most impactful moments in his military career During his time in the military, Morgan served as a staff sergeant and fire support specialist. Ashley Hume, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025 Here are some of the best deals available now: Be Windows 11-Ready With a New Inspiron Laptop The days of Windows 10 are almost behind us, with Microsoft ending OS support this year. Pcmag Brandx and Dell, PCMAG, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
These organizations rely not only on clergy but also on men and women performing essential religious work—ministering to communities, supporting the elderly, caring for children, and aiding those facing hardships. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025 The Alaskan city’s port, meanwhile, still supports Yukon mining and is a critical hub for fuel and other essentials both communities need. Dee-Ann Durbin and Sally Ho, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for support
Recent Examples of Synonyms for support
Noun
  • By the 2010s, deep learning combined with RL gave rise to deep reinforcement learning (DRL).
    Dhivya Nagasubramanian, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The Celtics did receive reinforcements in the form of Jaylen Brown and Luke Kornet, who both were upgraded from questionable to available before tipoff against the Cavs.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • During an October meeting, the FBI employee gave Pang $3,000 as payment for Pang and the other individual’s assistance in the operation.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Riverside County officials are now requesting help from state officials for technical assistance with the situation.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • So Far Baldoni claimed that during a meeting at Lively’s Tribeca penthouse to discuss a scene rewrite, a famous celebrity — later revealed to be Swift — happened to stop by and advocated for Lively’s writing.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
  • More than just a professional network, MWP is a movement advocating for policies that make workplaces more inclusive while also giving Muslim women the tools and confidence to thrive in their careers.
    Aparna Rae, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Prieto has maintained a series of long relationships, adapting to varied production sizes, budgets, and styles.
    Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
  • This ensures that every coaching session stays focused on your growth, not on trying to maintain a balanced exchange.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The veteran lineman played well during his first season as an NFL starting center before sustaining the notable injury in Week 5.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The country's fertility rate last year stood at just 1.0 births per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to sustain population growth.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Grecian-style sleeveless gown was reinforced in the midsection but otherwise draped loosely toward the ground.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • While none of the concepts discussed are new, Buffett reinforced insights relevant to the current state of investing, particularly Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance business.
    Bill Stone, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Recent Inflation Trends The FOMC had been hoping inflation would trend closer to its 2% annual target to justify further rate cuts.
    Simon Moore, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • But does his bat even justify that? Domínguez has one hit in seven at-bats so far this spring.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • There was no sanitizer measured in a three-compartment sink or in buckets with wipe cloths, and employees did not know how to properly verify the quantity of sanitizer using test strips.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Check road conditions: Before embarking on your journey, verify the current road conditions to make informed travel decisions.
    Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/support. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on support

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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