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 The Supreme Court upheld the decision of a state judge in March who agreed with Republicans’ position. —David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 The Constitution is being upheld. —Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2026 His sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, authorities added. —CBS News, 12 May 2026 Judges are obligated to give high deference to arbitrators and are expected to uphold awards so long as the award was not procured by fraud and the arbitrator didn’t fail to consider relevant evidence or follow basic legal principles. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 May 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
  • Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • The question is whether the student understands it well enough to defend it, adapt it and apply it when conditions change.
    — Shannon McKeen, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • Now, a new study suggests researchers may have found the first drug regimen capable of rapid and sustaining relief from suicidal thoughts across a broad group of patients.
    — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 19 May 2026
  • Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • Under a new arrangement, shipments of goods from Turkey or Armenia through a third country may now directly list their final destination or point of origin as Turkey or Armenia, lifting a prior restriction on such designations, Keceli said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
  • If there are areas of the bowl that have more stains, add a touch more of baking soda to them to try and lift them out.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • There are a whopping 1,400 coconut trees around the resort, as well as a 22-acre organic garden that takes 33 groundskeepers to maintain.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
  • Not every tiny college needs to be saved, nor does every regional public university have to maintain its independence.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
  • The Knicks’ wings have carried their defense throughout this playoff run.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 18 May 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • That alone, to me, raises questions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • In recent years, even some advocates of free trade have come around to the idea that certain tariffs can be justified on strategic and national-security grounds, especially when working with an avowedly mercantilist country like China.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Those benefits justified a rule holding employers responsible when hybrid workers cause others injury while moving between their home and office.
    — Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Your browser does not support the video tag.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • That’s not supported by the data.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 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 20 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on uphold

Nglish: Translation of uphold for Spanish Speakers

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