UPHOLD Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

uphold

verb

(ˌ)əp-ˈhōld

Definition of uphold next

as in to defend

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections determined to uphold her views in the face of all challenges

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to sustain

to hold up or serve as a foundation for an entablature upheld by a series of gracefully slender columns

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position worshippers upheld their joined hands and sang the praises of the Lord

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 uphold Rather than undermining right-wing movements, the contradictions of masculinity in Weimar and Nazi Germany upheld them. —

Christopher Ewing / Made By History, TIME, 20 Nov. 2024 The Ginori 1735 homeware brand upholds many of the values of timeless Italian beauty and is held near and dear by many global style setters today. —

Benedetta Rossi, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024 The Supreme Court upheld the states’ claims by barring the federal government from temporarily enforcing Title IX amendments in 10 states. —

Wenyuan Wu, Orange County Register, 18 Nov. 2024 On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council will have the opportunity to improve the lives of multi-unit housing residents like me by upholding our right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. —

David Stempel, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uphold

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold

Verb

Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt defended the proposal in response to concerns from multiple public officials and social justice advocates during a Monday meeting of the city's Public Safety Commission.

Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
According to the New York Times, Trump has privately defended his defense secretary nominee.

Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024