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Definition of upholdnext

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 About 58% of the East Arlington campus is in need of repair or replacement to uphold Arlington ISD’s values and expectations, according to an administration report. Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026 The sheriff’s office voluntarily released some documents and video to Cal-OSHA amid late-December court hearings that weighed the sheriff’s request to reject the subpoenas for interviews and documents against Cal-OSHA’s request to uphold them. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026 The council can now vote to uphold, amend or reverse entirely the commission’s decision, but a reversal or modification requires a two-thirds majority of the aldermen to vote for it. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026 He was acquitted in 2019 and that decision was upheld two years later. Jay Harris, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uphold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold
Verb
  • Playing without William Nylander, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev, among others, the Leafs ran all over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for two periods and then hung on to beat them in the third.
    Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The new agreement says that Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself are non-negotiable elements of any peace deal and warned that its self-defense is essential to its own security and wider Euro-Atlantic stability.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Strategic training and long-term transition plans The timing of this contract aligns with broader Navy efforts to sustain and eventually transition the E-6B fleet to its next generation.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Police were called to the scene after a report of a 3-year-old boy who was believed to have sustained a gunshot wound.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Once the polish is fully dry and hardened, use a credit card or your fingers to lift under the blob and break it off.
    Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a dramatic 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening game of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Together, these changes help maintain Full Well Capacity despite the tiny pixel size.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Sleek, minimal designs add polish while maintaining an effortless feel.
    Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Three agents are then seen carrying the man away from the scene by his arms and one of his legs.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Art carries wellness benefits, as well.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Wanda Sykes made sure that comedian Ricky Gervais — a comedian whose past material raised eyebrows and allegations of transphobia — shared his big 2026 Golden Globes night with a higher power and the transgender community.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
  • One of them, fist raised to the sky, let out a long yell, the hoarse shout of a gold panner.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry in early October cleared Rodarte and Trumm of potential wrongdoing, deeming their gunfire in response to Oliver as justified self-defense.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Some of Ross’s actions could be legally justified, Ramsey noted.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Invest in fiction written by humans and so support human creativity, vocations, and organic economies?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The Football Association of Ireland passed the resolution, proposed by Irish club Bohemians, with more than 50% of its delegates supporting it.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphold. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on uphold

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