STOOD BY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

stood by

verb

past tense of stand by

as in kept (to)

to give steadfast support to no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision

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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 stood by Three miles upstream, at the Riverview RV Park, Jason Fulcher, the Trotters and other campers stood by the river. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Singer stood by his ads and his position on stock trading by members of Congress. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Evans, 34, comes from a wealthy San Diego hotel family and stood by Holmes as her blood-testing startup Theranos collapsed and she was convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 When the interviewer challenged Barr, accusing her of lying, the actress stood by her story. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2026 Gartner stood by its analysis in a Monday interview with CNBC. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026 Sirianni stood by his decision on that sequence but regretted kicking the ball in play to Ameer Abdullah on the ensuing kickoff, after Abdullah’s 53-yard return in seven seconds set up Jacksonville’s game-winning kick. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Diddy’s team stood by The Breakfast Club‘s reporting and mentioned the statement given by the Bureau of Prisons mentioned above. — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026 Young men in mismatched military garb and sportswear stood by the gate with Kalashnikovs. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stood by

defended

Verb

The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, however, has defended the response of rescue teams.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
City officials defended the report as a routine effort to inform council members about infrastructure investments.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of defended

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stood

stood by

stood for

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“Stood by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stood%20by. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stood by

verb

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