Synonyms for support
- verb
- noun
Most common
sustain substantiate corroborate confirm contribute suffer help play
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Sustain — to provide evidence for; to lend credibility to
sustain, substantiate, corroborate, confirm, encourage, strengthen, approve, verify, further, establish, bear out, attest, forward, foster, comfort, shore, assure, succour UK, succor US, underpin, buttress, stay, affirm
2. Contribute
contribute, suffer, tolerate, stand, stand for, keep up, endure, stand up for, put up with, go through, put up, stick out, afford
4. Play — to be designed to provide capacity for; to work or be compatible with (a part, accessory, file type, program…
play, enable, run, perform, accommodate
Other
aid, patronage, defend, back, assist, advocate, second, subscribe, protect, abet, patronize, patronise UK, favor US, favour UK
Noun
1. Hold
hold, keep, sustenance, livelihood, living, maintenance, keeping
2. Backing
Other
back-up, foundation, base, encouragement, basis, hold-up, ground, reinforcement, rest, supporter, staff, documentation
Definitions
- v. 1
To help keep from falling.
Don’t move that beam! It supports the whole platform.
- v. 2
To provide evidence for; to lend credibility to.
The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges.
- n. 1
Something which supports.
Don't move that beam! It's a support for the whole platform.
- n. 2
Financial or other help.
The government provides support to the arts in several ways.
Related words
Choose the right word
A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- confirm I will neither confirm nor deny these allegations.
- sustain Algeria needs to sustain a better level of growth.
- corroborate There was no one who could corroborate Sami's alibi.
- substantiate Sami won't be able to substantiate that alibi.
- contribute How will this contribute to Algeria's development?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| support | steady | |
| confirm | rising | |
| sustain | steady | |
| corroborate | steady | |
| substantiate | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- run1, aid1
- 4 letters
- back1, take1, help1, keep1, play1, stay1, hold1, rest1, base1, bear1, abet2
- 5 letters
- stand1, staff1, basis2, favor2, shore1
- 6 letters
- second2, living2, ground1, afford2, suffer2, defend2, assist2, foster2, enable3, favour2, assure2, verify3, endure2, uphold2
- 7 letters
- further2, forward2, protect2, keeping2, perform2, funding2, confirm2, comfort2, backing2, approve2, sustain2, bolster2, succour
- 8 letters
- advocate3, tolerate3, underpin3, buttress2
- 9 letters
- encourage3, establish3, supporter3, subscribe2, patronage3, patronize3, patronise
- 10 letters
- foundation3, assistance3, contribute3, strengthen2, livelihood3, sustenance3
- 11 letters
- maintenance3, accommodate4, corroborate4
- 12 letters
- substantiate4
- 13 letters
- documentation5, encouragement4, reinforcement4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (abet2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- soutenir