1
as in champs
the person who comes in first in a competition
the champion of the national spelling bee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proponents
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in advocates
to promote the interests or cause of
he has always championed the protection of abused animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of champions
Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
The team boasts defending world champions in three of the four disciplines.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Argentina chose Kansas City for its camp and Sporting Kansas City on Thursday said the defending World Cup champions will train at the SKC facilities.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are the league champions and other worthwhile notes from around the area before heading into the playoffs.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Efimova and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, are the reigning pairs national champions.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Kering and the Saudi Fashion Commission have opened applications for the second edition of the Kering Generation Award x MENA—a program that champions promising, sustainable fashion startups—as announced during the opening reception of the RLC Global Forum, hosted at the French Residency in Riyadh.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Minnesota has had a total of 20 Super Bowl champions, with Tony Dungy winning one as a player with Pittsburgh in 1979 and one as a head coach in Indianapolis in 2007.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And as of course, Brian knows well, Madison Chalk, Evan Bates, seven time national champions are going to try to finally win their first individual in the sense of ice dance medal.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The hotel’s art is curated by OZ Art NWA, which champions Northwest Arkansas artists.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
Organizing consultant Marie Kondo also champions the benefits of a tidy workspace.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
In addition to developing feature genre stories, Schwan is one of the founders of Silverlake Scream Show, an annual horror anthology screening event that champions emerging genre filmmakers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
Like Redford, Frasure also champions low taxes.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
The Republican who ostensibly champions liberty but justifies authoritarian impulses from the White House.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
The whole concept also champions uniqueness, with the members scoping out outfits that feel true to themselves, while also being out of this world.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due.
—Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
The hotel champions writers and other creatives, which traces back to owner Jonathan Plutzik’s father, poet Hyam Plutzik, a three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2026
The team boasts defending world champions in three of the four disciplines.
—Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Argentina chose Kansas City for its camp and Sporting Kansas City on Thursday said the defending World Cup champions will train at the SKC facilities.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
Here are the league champions and other worthwhile notes from around the area before heading into the playoffs.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Efimova and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, are the reigning pairs national champions.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Kering and the Saudi Fashion Commission have opened applications for the second edition of the Kering Generation Award x MENA—a program that champions promising, sustainable fashion startups—as announced during the opening reception of the RLC Global Forum, hosted at the French Residency in Riyadh.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Minnesota has had a total of 20 Super Bowl champions, with Tony Dungy winning one as a player with Pittsburgh in 1979 and one as a head coach in Indianapolis in 2007.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And as of course, Brian knows well, Madison Chalk, Evan Bates, seven time national champions are going to try to finally win their first individual in the sense of ice dance medal.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Hotel Naru also champions a community-centric approach.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
The hotel’s art is curated by OZ Art NWA, which champions Northwest Arkansas artists.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
Organizing consultant Marie Kondo also champions the benefits of a tidy workspace.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
In addition to developing feature genre stories, Schwan is one of the founders of Silverlake Scream Show, an annual horror anthology screening event that champions emerging genre filmmakers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
Like Redford, Frasure also champions low taxes.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
The Republican who ostensibly champions liberty but justifies authoritarian impulses from the White House.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
The whole concept also champions uniqueness, with the members scoping out outfits that feel true to themselves, while also being out of this world.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
The group champions the introduction of the Equal Earth projection, which aims to give Africa its magnitudinal due.
—Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for champions
Noun
-
Freedom was able to avenge a district championship loss to Lake Nona by knocking off the defending state champs in a quarterfinal rematch 2-0 in overtime.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The biggest football night of the year is over and the Seahawks are champs.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some religious leaders oppose practice While proponents point to environmental benefits, human composting is not universally accepted.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
At the time, proponents of the bill mentioned that it could also be used to crack down on Spring Breakers.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a hearing before the House committee, advocates for the House language argued that short-term rentals through platforms like AirBnb and VRBO are not in fact businesses but residences under Idaho law — and cities have pushed too far to control how hosts use their homes.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Better in Our Backyard, founded in Minnesota, advocates for responsible industrial mining and supports the Twin Metals project.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Portland’s Damian Lillard joined Bird and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as the only three-time winners with a stunning exhibition in the final round, ending up with a score of 29 — two better than runner-up and 2018 champion Devin Booker of Phoenix.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
See the full list of winners below.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If dialogue or compromise were to take place, his sacred image would collapse in the eyes of his supporters.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
On the other hand, the court upheld limits on what supporters can contribute directly.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The group rarely endorses candidates during primaries.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Girl Cory endorses Boy Korey’s theatrics.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The prime exponents are Brentford, with whom Gronnemark has worked on a consultancy basis.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Champions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/champions. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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