supporting 1 of 2

as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something scientists looking for direct supporting evidence of microscopic black holes, the existence of which is theoretical

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

supporting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of support
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2
as in keeping
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

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as in reinforcing
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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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 supporting
Adjective
The incredible supporting cast is made up entirely of old-hand character actors, promising but underknown newcomers, and comedy- or comedy-adjacent figures with passionate niche followings and Gumby-esque limbs. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026 Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line. Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Moon trines your ruler Mercury in your sign, supporting careful edits, useful explanations, and conversations that stay on track. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026 In a declaration supporting their complaint, Becker noted that California is mulling a bill, SB 813, that would establish a process where independent organizations would set baselines for AI safety standards. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 Homer also described the three as supporting Aphrodite, the goddess of love, after her birth. Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 The award is organised in partnership with Ecoprod, a French non-profit organisation supporting the audiovisual industry’s environmental transition through collaboration and practical solutions. Kevin Giraud, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Commercial management focuses on protecting and growing an investment while supporting businesses that rely on the property to generate revenue. David Crown, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Across the 24 countries surveyed in 2025, roughly one in nine respondents preferred that their country maintain strong economic ties with both powers rather than supporting one over the other. Adam Y. Liu, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026 She doesn’t wanna be seen as somebody who’s not supporting a woman of color. David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Parton gave to numerous other causes over the years, including supporting wildfire victims and funding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
  • Still, a supportive connection between the moon, Neptune and Pluto retrograde adds a deeper undercurrent to all the buzzing and socializing.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • He's argued that allowing foreign adversaries like China to outpace the US in developing AI could be a risk to national security, but his administration has been very supportive of AI despite the growing backlash.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Trump’s Truth Social post came after a meeting with actor Jon Voight, one of the president’s designated Hollywood ambassadors who has played a key role in lobbying for the film industry and advocating for a federal tax credit.
    Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem dedicated her life to advocating for women and girls.
    Terry Gross, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Lovano expressed deep gratitude to Collins for steering the festival for many years and keeping the atmosphere alive.
    Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • More than any position group, the Terps’ weakness right now is just sustaining success – for a full season or even a full 60 minutes in big games.
    Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Ariana Grande will take the stage in London tonight in comfortable footwear rather than her signature heels after sustaining a minor injury.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At the center, a Geometric CNC Fuller visually reduces the mass of the blade while reinforcing Razorbill's distinctive multi-faceted character.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Michon will be tasked with expanding Messika’s retail footprint, reinforcing its organization and distribution, and accelerating brand-building across the region.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Hochul has made that argument in defending New York’s law, saying local officers should remain focused on investigating crimes rather than using state and local resources to perform ICE’s work.
    María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But by defending in this way, Chelsea are giving smart opponents the advantage in the battle for possession.
    Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Meta is also promising to do a better job of verifying users' ages and has agreed to report regularly to an independent auditor.
    Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Smoke events leave residue behind; the guidelines include protocols for flushing spaces and verifying air quality once the event passes.
    Sissi Liu, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, cooler heads prevailed, with respectful interactions afterward, and Khabib Nurmagomedov even assisting Song.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • While Taunton was assisting, another vehicle hydroplaned toward them and Taunton pushed a person at the scene out of the way.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Supporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supporting. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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