EN

Synonyms for uphold

  • verb

Most common

preserve support defend stay maintain vindicate

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Preserve — to keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling

preserve, support, defend, stay, continue, keep, sustain, justify, stand up for, help, advocate, confirm, bear up, bear out, bear, sanction, abet, bear on, prop, affirm, bolster

2. Maintain

maintain, vindicate, assert

Other

elevate, raise, countenance

Antonyms

abandon, cancel, annul

All antonyms of uphold →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling.

  2. v. 2

    To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.

Related words

Word family
upholdable upholder

Choose the right word

Uphold, Advocate, Aid, Encourage, Support or Incite?

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

  • continue We have to continue doing this until it gets done.
  • defend We should tell the children how to defend oneself.
  • preserve Here are a few good rules on how to preserve food.
  • sustain Algeria needs to sustain a better level of growth.
  • elevate Improved conditions elevate the human experience.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
upholdsteady
continuesteady
defendsteady
preservesteady
sustainsteady
elevaterising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
help1, keep1, stay1, bear1, prop1, abet2
5 letters
raise1
6 letters
defend2, assert2, affirm2
7 letters
support2, confirm2, justify3, sustain2, elevate3, bolster2
8 letters
continue3, maintain2, preserve2, advocate3, sanction2
9 letters
vindicate3
11 letters
countenance3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (abet2 = 2 syllables).