as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something
scientists looking for direct supporting evidence of microscopic black holes, the existence of which is theoretical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in advocating
to promote the interests or cause of
though childless themselves, they support the local schools both by volunteering and by fiercely opposing funding cuts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in keeping
to pay the living expenses of
a young widow supporting a sick mother as well as two small children on a teacher's salary
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
pillars supporting the bridge
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in reinforcing
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
studies that support the claim that red wine drinkers have a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in defending
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections
we support the students' right to speak out on local issues that affect them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in verifying
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of
new evidence supports the original researchers' unexpected conclusions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in assisting
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
sent reinforcements to support the troops deployed overseas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in tolerating
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
he simply cannot support the thought of having to go on living without his beloved wife at his side
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of supporting
Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Legal departments also use it for contract review against standard terms, analyzing negotiation language, processing large document sets for relevant arguments, and supporting intellectual property monitoring.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
At the end of each chapter, on-screen text provides statistics supporting the theme of the chapter.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026
In other words, voters didn’t accidentally stumble into supporting term limits.
—Jovani Patterson, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
Starring in the pic are David Oyelowo (Selma), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Knock at the Cabin), and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), who has a supporting role.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
But in America, you’re not always born into supporting one club.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
There are active committees supporting five different candidates as of Saturday, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Expanding access to high-quality early education, supporting the workforce behind it, and giving families clearer information is all part of the solution.
—Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Adjective
Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Other bills could lead to new relief for small businesses in the future, with lawmakers endorsing the creation of studies and working groups that will look at things like supporting artificial intelligence use by small businesses and tourism.
—P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Legal departments also use it for contract review against standard terms, analyzing negotiation language, processing large document sets for relevant arguments, and supporting intellectual property monitoring.
—Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
At the end of each chapter, on-screen text provides statistics supporting the theme of the chapter.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026
In other words, voters didn’t accidentally stumble into supporting term limits.
—Jovani Patterson, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
Starring in the pic are David Oyelowo (Selma), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Knock at the Cabin), and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), who has a supporting role.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
But in America, you’re not always born into supporting one club.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2026
There are active committees supporting five different candidates as of Saturday, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Expanding access to high-quality early education, supporting the workforce behind it, and giving families clearer information is all part of the solution.
—Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
-
Jules helps Logan manage his crush on Hannah and pushes him to be supportive of their mother who’s in rehab for the fifth time.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
The Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association, the trade association representing the state’s restaurants and hotels, was especially supportive of another provision in the bill that would have allowed a portion of the sales-and-use tax to be dedicated to tourism funding.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Each organization addresses various critical needs across the LGBTQ+ community, such as supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ elder care, increasing access to preventative health services and treatment, and providing mental health support for young people.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Patrick later gave the money to Sophie’s aunt, Kirsten Reeder Milhorn, who has spent years advocating for answers in her niece’s case.—
Kyani Reid,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Though the couple hasn't commented publicly on their relationship, and Foxx has been candid about keeping his relationships out of the spotlight in the past, Huckstepp has supported Foxx at a number of events.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
The nonprofit’s statement did not reference the permitting process, but highlighted the importance of keeping the event running for the LGBTQ+ community.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The book explores codependency, mental health and the realities of sustaining love under pressure.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
The court was told that Paul and her 10-month-old son were in one of the seven cars involved in the collision, resulting in the baby sustaining a broken leg, per Toronto Sun and CBC.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
In addiction treatment, encouraging emotional attachment to an algorithm risks reinforcing the very patterns of avoidance and substitution that sustain addiction.—
Steve D. Klein,
STAT,
14 May 2026
-
Measures seen as defensive in Tokyo or Manila are invariably interpreted in Beijing as offensive—reinforcing, rather than easing, cycles of suspicion.—
Yu Jie,
Time,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Caneiro's two daughters also testified, defending their father.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Janarius Robinson was in Foxboro on Tuesday for a workout with the defending AFC champions, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Industry pros said the debacle shows how lenders in the space, such as investment banks and asset managers, now face a fundamental challenge in assessing and verifying their true economic exposure to risks within such complex credit structures.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
There’s also no shortage of folks rather blindly passing along to others health info seen on social media without verifying the info’s accuracy.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Grok’s instructions on Github, for instance, list several safety considerations including not assisting users asking about violent crimes.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal is assisting in the investigation into what caused the fire.—
Riley Moser,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Supporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supporting. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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