champion 1 of 2

champion

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word champion different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of champion are advocate, back, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When can advocate be used instead of champion?

The words advocate and champion can be used in similar contexts, but advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When might back be a better fit than champion?

Although the words back and champion have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When could support be used to replace champion?

In some situations, the words support and champion are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to champion?

While the synonyms uphold and champion are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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 champion
Noun
Suarez was joined by former series champions Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott, as well as Christopher Bell, last weekend’s race winner. Jenna Fryer, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025 So far this year, Oklahoma City has built the defensive habits of a champion while maintaining a top-10 offense. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
Since it was established in 2015, the Afro Fashion Association has championed talents based in Italy and belonging to underrepresented communities who are active in creative and entrepreneurial industries. Martino Carrera, WWD, 28 Feb. 2025 An update last week to the University of Michigan’s long-running consumer sentiment index showed Americans are worried that the tariffs championed by Trump will cause high inflation to come roaring back. Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for champion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champion
Noun
  • Dancing With the Stars MC Julianne Hough returns as co-host, but her 2024 co-host Vanessa Hudgens will be replaced this year by former NFL champ and current Bachelor franchise host Jesse Palmer.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • At 19-9, 11-6 in the Big East, they are positioned for a first-round bye in the conference tournament and an NCAA Tournament berth, baseline achievements for the back-to-back national champs, for sure, but nothing that should be taken for granted anywhere.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • There’s much misinformation about who actually pays tariffs Trump is a proponent of tariffs, insisting that they are paid for by foreign countries.
    Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, is also a staunch free speech proponent.
    Tovia Smith, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • So Far Baldoni claimed that during a meeting at Lively’s Tribeca penthouse to discuss a scene rewrite, a famous celebrity — later revealed to be Swift — happened to stop by and advocated for Lively’s writing.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile advocates for those living there say the only solution for homelessness is permanent housing.
    Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Diego Lopes The winner of the UFC 314 main event will walk away from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida with the UFC featherweight title over their shoulder.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The national competition has often led some winners to Broadway.
    Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • On Wednesday, Lyle Menendez reacted to the news to his supporters and family in a Facebook post.
    Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The unprecedented Oval Office meeting has since drawn widespread attention, with some Trump supporters praising him, others expressing concern, and many international leaders and Democrats criticizing the president and voicing support for Zelensky.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But Johnson won a key victory last week when Mr. Trump endorsed his chamber's budget outline.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Except that to endorse or criticize Apple for embracing DEI or not is to completely miss the point.
    John Tamny, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Republicans in Congress and across the country have strongly supported Trump, his policies, and his controversial nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at health and human services, Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, Kash Patel at the FBI, and others.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025
  • European leaders largely supported Zelenskyy following his Friday Oval Office meeting with Trump.
    Luke Garrett, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Brutalism is once again the matter of mainstream discourse with the release of The Brutalist, a three-and-a-half-hour film about an exponent of the style named Lászlo Tóth.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Jan. 2025
  • An exponent of decadent literature, D’Annunzio, too, raised an army, in 1919, and even tried to establish an independent state in a part of what is now Croatia.
    Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Champion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/champion. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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