| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | help |
| Synonyms: | aid, assist, bear up, boost, brace, buck up, bulwark, buoy, buttress, carry, cushion, help, hold up, maintain, pick up, pillow, prop, reinforce, shore up, stay, strengthen, support, sustain, uphold |
| Antonyms: | hinder, not support, obstruct, prevent, undermine |
| Main Entry: | buoy (up) |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make light, encourage |
| Synonyms: | bolster, boost, buck up, cheer, cheer up, encourage, hearten, keep afloat, lift, prop, raise, support, sustain, uphold |
| Antonyms: | bring down, depress |
| Main Entry: | buttress |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | support, bolster |
| Synonyms: | back up, beef up, brace, build up, bulwark, carry, jack up, jazz up, prop, reinforce, shore, step up, strengthen, sustain, uphold |
| Antonyms: | let down, weaken |
| Main Entry: | champion |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | advocate, support |
| Synonyms: | back, battle, contend, defend, espouse, fight for, go to bat for, patronize, plead for, promote, put in a good word for, ride shotgun for, side with, stand behind, stand up for, support, thump for, uphold |
| Antonyms: | be against, oppose |
| Main Entry: | claim |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | demand, maintain property or right |
| Synonyms: | adduce, advance, allege, ask, assert, believe, call for, challenge, collect, declare, defend, exact, have dibs on something, hit, hit up, hold, hold out for, insist, justify, knock, lay claim to, need, pick up, pop the question, postulate, pretend, profess, pronounce, require, requisition, solicit, stake out, take, uphold, vindicate |
| Antonyms: | deny, disclaim, question |
| Main Entry: | comfort |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make to feel better |
| Synonyms: | abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assist, assuage, bolster, buck up, calm, cheer, commiserate with, compose, condole, confirm, console, delight, divert, ease, encourage, enliven, free, gladden, grant respite, hearten, help, inspirit, invigorate, lighten burden, make well, mitigate, nourish, put at ease, quiet fears, reanimate, reassure, refresh, relieve, remedy, revitalize, revive, salve, soften, solace, soothe, strengthen, stroke, succor, support, sustain, sympathize, uphold, upraise |
| Antonyms: | aggravate, annoy, bother, distress, exasperate, hurt, irritate, provoke, torment, torture, trouble, vex |
| Main Entry: | confirm |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ratify, validate, prove |
| Synonyms: | affirm, approve, attest, authenticate, back, bear out, bless, buy, certify, check, check out, circumstantiate, corroborate, debunk, double-check, endorse, establish, explain, give green light, give high sign, give stamp of approval, give the go-ahead, give the nod, justify, lap up, make good, make sure, okay, rubber-stamp, sanction, settle, sign, sign off on, size up, subscribe, substantiate, support, thumbs up, underpin, uphold, verify, vouch, warrant, witness |
| Notes: | corroborate is used in a narrower context, usually by way of providing support for testimony in a legal proceeding; confirm is to lend support to a much wider array of things |
| Antonyms: | annul, cancel, contradict, destroy, disprove, invalidate, oppose, veto, void |
| Main Entry: | continue |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | persist, carry on |
| Synonyms: | abide, advance, carry forward, draw out, endure, extend, forge ahead, get on with it, go on, hang in, keep at, keep on, keep on truckin', keep the ball rolling, keep up, last, lengthen, linger, live on, loiter, maintain, make headway, move ahead, never cease, outlast, outlive, perdure, persevere, persist in, press on, progress, project, prolong, promote, pursue, push on, reach, remain, rest, ride, run on, stand, stay, stay on, stick at, stick to, survive, sustain, uphold |
| Antonyms: | cease, complete, desist, discontinue, end, finish, halt, stop |
| Main Entry: | contribute |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | be partly responsible for |
| Synonyms: | add to, advance, aid, assist, augment, be conducive, be instrumental, conduce, do one's bit, finger in the pie, fortify, get in the act, have a hand in, help, lead, put in two cents, redound, reinforce, sit in on, strengthen, supplement, support, tend, uphold |
| Antonyms: | counteract, disapprove, neglect, shun, withhold |