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

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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 In 1954, the Supreme Court overturned its 1896 decision that upheld racial segregation. — Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026 Both countries have stepped up efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the strait, including hosting a summit with 51 other nations in April. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Unlike other nations, US sports typically uphold oversight, a key differentiator now jeopardized by the appearance of corruption. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI upheld the validity of the Latin Rite and urged priests to offer such a Mass if their parishioners demanded it. — ABC News, 3 July 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
  • While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • This year, Argentina is defending its World Cup title, with Messi widely regarded as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • Two firefighters died from injures sustained while fighting the blaze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The company may be showing some signs of financial stabilization, but sustaining a turnaround will depend on whether change takes hold throughout the entire organization.
    — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • The crew took part in rescuing a 47-year-old man who was pulled out of the rubble eight days after the quakes hit, lifting the spirits and morale of rescuers who up until then were primarily uncovering human remains.
    — Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Elsewhere in the city, several heavy trucks were lifted and moved as far 30 meters by the winds.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Those resources include avenues to help seniors maintain regular exercise, ongoing positive social connections, appropriate living situations, transportation and more.
    — Rachel Brown Kirkland, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • The business in question is stealing Georgia’s nightclub idea, though Charlie maintains that’s not what’s happening because his club won’t have any bowling.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • Just assume that any animal is going to carry disease, and rabies is one of them.
    — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • But the data center boom has raised many questions about land use, the resources the complexes consume and the risk of costs being spread to other Georgia residents and businesses.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Gonzales ran with a platform decisively to the left, supporting Medicare-for-all, raising the minimum wage and cracking down on junk fees.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Wall Street is increasingly punishing Big Tech companies for spending on AI without profits to justify it.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Thus far, Meta was only monetizing AI through its advertising, which is a great business but can be cyclical and was not enough to justify using all its cash flow.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 1 July 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • During a 2019-20 artist residency with New York City’s Department of Records and Information Services, Weist mined municipal archives for records revealing how city government had defined, supported and monitored past artists.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Developed by L3Harris Technologies under the Combat Mission Systems Support framework, the system will be operated by the command's Space Delta 3 (DEL 3) – Space Electromagnetic Warfare, with acquisition and sustainment supported by System Delta 89.
    — David Szondy July 06, New Atlas, 7 July 2026
Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

uphills
uphold
upholding
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Cite this Entry

“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphold. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of uphold for Spanish Speakers

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