1
as in defending
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 sustaining
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 lifting
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
as in respect
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upholding
Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts, who is also conservative, joined liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in a ruling upholding a lower court order that unfroze $2 billion in foreign aid.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Ehlers’ duty as a public official includes upholding and respecting the legal process, not impugning it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
The administration contends the law is unconstitutional, asserting an expansive view of presidential power that could prompt the Supreme Court to overturn what remains of its 90-year-old precedent upholding such removal protections.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The justices came to the opposite conclusion in 2015 when upholding restrictions on the design of specialty license plates, which support a cause or organization.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
The justices came to the opposite conclusion in 2015 when upholding restrictions on the design of specialty license plates, which support a cause or organization.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
When a handful of activists tried to turn the protests more directly against the Ukrainian leadership, others quickly intervened to steer the message back to upholding the integrity of state institutions.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
In other words, the leaders need to be the leaders while upholding the standards set forth by the coaching staff – a staff that had offseason turnover limited to one full-timer – while educating and guiding the younger players.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Earlier this year, Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts, who is also conservative, joined liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in a ruling upholding a lower court order that unfroze $2 billion in foreign aid.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Ehlers’ duty as a public official includes upholding and respecting the legal process, not impugning it.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
The administration contends the law is unconstitutional, asserting an expansive view of presidential power that could prompt the Supreme Court to overturn what remains of its 90-year-old precedent upholding such removal protections.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The justices came to the opposite conclusion in 2015 when upholding restrictions on the design of specialty license plates, which support a cause or organization.
—Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
The justices came to the opposite conclusion in 2015 when upholding restrictions on the design of specialty license plates, which support a cause or organization.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
When a handful of activists tried to turn the protests more directly against the Ukrainian leadership, others quickly intervened to steer the message back to upholding the integrity of state institutions.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upholding
Verb
-
That means rejecting attempts to restrict voting access, defending safe and accessible election systems, and demanding that lawmakers champion pro-voter policies that expand access—like automatic voter registration and nationwide early voting.—
Hannah Fried,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Its once press-shy board chair, Robyn Denholm, has been making the rounds over the past week, defending the up-to-$1 trillion pay package awarded to the billionaire CEO.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Average all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for major producers hover between $1,080 and $1,220 per ounce.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This helps explain the S & P 500 churning to records without sustaining even a 3% pullback since May, placing valuations at cycle highs, while also creating room for disappointment or fatigue even if the Fed delivers as hoped .—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But then the gel starts lifting up at the corners and catching on things like your hair.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
After lifting the ban in 2017, her country has come a long way, too.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Clearly Putin is determined to see nothing less than the destruction of a democratic Ukraine tethered to Europe and has no respect for the international rule of law or his counterparts.—
Oleksandra Matviichuk,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The play’s revival at The Shed meets New York City in simplicity, inviting the audience’s spiritual imagination with respect to traditional Yoruba conventions of performance.—
Essence,
Essence,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This kind of continuous monitoring is critical for developing and maintaining climate models.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
For many companies, the greatest challenge isn't significant changes themselves, but weathering several simultaneously while maintaining business as usual.—
James Manto,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sweet almond, cucumber, flaxseed, broccoli, rice bran, rose hip, and radish oils are all present to deliver high-impact antioxidant power, barrier-supporting omega fatty acids, and the healthy radiance of someone who gets their daily serving of greens.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In 1981, Redford established the Sundance Institute at the site aimed at supporting emerging filmmakers, screenwriters, and other artists outside the mainstream Hollywood system.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Among them were countless era-defining releases that are still among the best movies ever made—of any genre—from the haunting Rebecca to the gripping Rear Window, and the ravishing Vertigo to the hair-raising Psycho.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
-
There were times when raising kids, building careers, and paying bills felt overwhelming.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In this age of tumultuous politics, and getting further and further away from the days of deference, and the queen no longer being there, people are rapidly losing interest.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Not to mention the emphasis on respect and deference to one's elders.—
Katherine Singh,
Refinery29,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upholding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upholding. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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