white knight

noun

Definition of white knightnext
as in proponent
a person who actively supports or favors a cause a deserving cause in need of a charismatic white knight who will galvanize public support

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 white knight When Paramount – a company in disarray and deep financial distress – started courting potential buyers in 2024, Ellison emerged as the white knight. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026 To combat this, Walt Disney's nephew Roy and his business partner Stanley Gold put together a group which eventually chose Eisner, a real-life white knight whose job was to save the company rather than break it up. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Feb. 2026 Separately, the company has been hit with sale speculation, most recently that Anta Sports could be a white knight for the brand. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026 The last cliffhanger revolves around the fate of Agence Grateau, for which Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) had to bring aboard a white knight due to financial losses. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for white knight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white knight
  1. proponent
  2. supporter
  3. advocate
  4. advocator
  5. exponent
Noun
  • The billionaire tax fight grew more contentious last month after the lead proponent of the measure, SEIU UHW President Dave Regan, was accused of harassing female colleagues and threatening other union leaders to urge them to back the measure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The biggest proponent of Proposition NN is the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union.
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of proponent
Noun
  • Even some supporters of capital punishment, including a number of Republican lawmakers, seemed repelled by the prospect.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The bottom line of Milton Friedman and other supporters of neoliberalism was that there has to be effective competition, there has to be open entry.
    — John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of supporter
Noun
  • However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The city’s independent ratepayer advocate, Timothy O’Connor, agreed that high temperatures were a big driver of the skyrocketing bills, with more people moving into Tier 2 and Tier 3.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of advocate
Noun
  • In the leadership and care phase, your role is that of an advocator.
    — Rodney C. Adkins, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of advocator
Noun
  • Grupo Duelo, one of the most prominent exponents of norteño tejano music, will be part of the Billboard Latin Music Week 2026, representing traditional regional Mexican music.
    — Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Scientists have sought a way to shrink the size of the exponent.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of exponent

Browse Nearby Words

white-hot
white knight
white knights
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Cite this Entry

“White knight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20knight. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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