ADVOCATE Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'advocate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of advocate are back , champion , support , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: When is it sensible to use 'back' instead of 'advocate'?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

Q: When can 'champion' be used instead of 'advocate'?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When is 'support' a more appropriate choice than 'advocate'?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

Q: Where would 'uphold' be a reasonable alternative to 'advocate'?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

advocate 1 of 2

noun

ˈad-və-kət

Definition of advocate

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause Mark Twain, Noah Webster, and President Theodore Roosevelt are among past advocates of a reformed spelling system

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lawyer

a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations with such a strong case against him, he's going to need the best advocate that money can buy

Synonyms & Similar Words

advocate

2 of 2

verb

ˈad-və-ˌkāt

as in to endorse

to promote the interests or cause of environmentalists advocating agricultural methods designed to slow the destruction of rain forests

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word advocate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of advocate are back, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

When is it sensible to use back instead of advocate?

Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can champion be used instead of advocate?

In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When is support a more appropriate choice than advocate?

The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

Where would uphold be a reasonable alternative to advocate?

While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

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 advocate

Noun

America’s wealthiest are snapping up huge swathes of farmland, and while some are using it for their elaborate hobbies, agriculture advocates worry the broader trend of the rich purchasing tillage is putting the livelihood of actual farmers at risk. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 The organization has formed a coalition with 70 other groups, including faith leaders, business executives, unions and other voting rights advocates. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

He’s authored over 100 books and articles advocating against the death penalty and has been present for more than a dozen executions. — Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026 The actress advocated for marine life preservation, teen pregnancy prevention and domestic violence awareness. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for advocate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for advocate

Noun

Termini could not provide an explanation as to why proponents opted to revive an unrelated, inactive bill.

— Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
The roadless rule hasn’t prevented wildfire mitigation work, its proponents also say.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Weighing the evidence in a new light The evidence at the heart of Myers’ conviction, his lawyers say, is just as troubling as the representation surrounding his case and raises questions of its own.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Khan’s lawyers and family have also accused the government of defying a court order that required him to be examined at the private Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of lawyer

Verb

The Boston Herald endorses David Solet for Middlesex District Attorney.

— Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Tubman asked Douglass to write a letter endorsing her character and accomplishments for inclusion in the book.

— Katie Angell Britannica Editors Aug. 24, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of endorse

Noun

The government said Khan’s supporters had begun gathering outside the private hospital in violation of the court order, which required them to stay away from the medical facility to avoid inconveniencing other patients.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Fabares was a longtime supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association, after her mother was diagnosed with the disease in the early 1990s.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

Nor did the attorney who represented Malosso in his supreme court appeal.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Many low-wage service workers toil in marginal jobs, but so do white-collar professionals such as adjunct university faculty and staff attorneys at law firms.

— Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of attorney

Verb

Erdogan has called Netanyahu a war criminal and repeatedly accused Israel of atrocities in Gaza; Netanyahu has accused Erdogan of supporting Hamas.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
The technology can support both conventional and remote sites, like areas where traditional energy infrastructure may be difficult or expensive to build.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

advisory

advocate

advocated

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Style

“Advocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/advocate. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of advocate

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