uphold

verb

(ˌ)əp-ˈhōld How to pronounce uphold (audio)
Definition of upholdnext
1
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
2
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
3
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

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 Several political parties sought a review of the first-round vote, but the results were upheld. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 Neither Talwani’s decision nor the Supreme Court ruling upheld the policy’s legality. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 The second tally upheld the original result and Strada was declared the winner. — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 The court upheld the $14 million front-pay award but remanded the issue back to the trial court for further review. — Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uphold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphold
  1. defend
  2. sustain
  3. lift
  4. maintain
  5. carry
  6. raise
  7. justify
  8. support
Verb
  • Alonso is leaning into Chelsea’s strength — the transitional attacking power of his front three — and working on protecting the weakness, giving up too much space for his team to defend.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • For over two decades, Blue Origin has been largely Bezos's personal space dream, sustained mainly by his private wealth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The second driver was hospitalized with injuries sustained in the collision.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • But the flood of money is also lifting stocks in tech, infrastructure, energy, and construction, delivering gains across generations.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Latest drone footage from CCTV shows rescue workers using lifting equipment in an attempt to restore and rebuild a road by the turbulent currents and in between the towering mountains.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • For most of us, the results emphasize the role muscles play in maintaining our general health.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Laboratory testing confirms the blends meet regulatory standards, deliver superior anti-knock and anti-detonation performance, and maintain high oxidation stability, along with low sulfur and benzene levels.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • Washington claimed that the launchers were preparing to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Hormuz Strait.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When difficulty arrives, will your routines carry you forward?
    — Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • The college apologized for concerns raised by the comments, and later Monday, EMCC announced Rice’s promotion.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The mere possibility of losing its critical space assets in a surprise attack could push the United States to use its forces early or to delegate launch authority in ways that raise the risk of an accident, to avoid the devastating consequences.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Long-term resource potential Technical performance alone cannot justify a project; economic balance governs actual field deployment.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The prosecution and defense both gave closing arguments Tuesday during the second preliminary hearing since July, which is a limited purpose proceeding held for a judge to determine whether the charges are justified.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Our team of Victim Advocates are supporting those involved in what happened today.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Easley said a community gathering organized in support of the brewery on Saturday drew a large crowd, with some of the drag brunch’s vendors and a food truck showing up to support the brewery.
    — Evan Moore August 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

uphills
uphold
upholding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All