PROMOTE Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'promote' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of promote are advance , forward , and further . While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank. // a campaign to promote better health

Q: When might 'advance' be a better fit than 'promote'?

Although the words advance and promote have much in common, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end. // advance the cause of peace

Q: When is it sensible to use 'forward' instead of 'promote'?

While the synonyms forward and promote are close in meaning, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead. // a wage increase would forward productivity

Q: When would 'further' be a good substitute for 'promote'?

The synonyms further and promote are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance. // used the marriage to further his career

promote

verb

prə-ˈmōt

Definition of promote

as in to sell

to provide publicity for promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to elevate

to move higher in rank or position the navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to encourage

to help the growth or development of a campaign promoting good dental hygiene

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to grow

to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care spends all her time now promoting her new business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promote contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of promote are advance, forward, and further. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

When might advance be a better fit than promote?

Although the words advance and promote have much in common, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is it sensible to use forward instead of promote?

While the synonyms forward and promote are close in meaning, forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

When would further be a good substitute for promote?

The synonyms further and promote are sometimes interchangeable, but further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

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 promote The tech giant invested heavily in promoting them, collaborating with celebrity influencer Kylie Jenner on a pair of Ray-Bans featuring an AI assistant that speaks in her voice. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026 Research shows proximity to water, through active engagement or passive viewing, promotes stress reduction, increased happiness, better sleep, and physical activity. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 A lot of people were finding TikTok organically, but in addition to that TikTok was promoting itself on ads on Instagram and Snapchat. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Revolve promoted Raissa Gerona to president, brand and partnerships. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for promote

Recent Examples of Synonyms for promote

Verb

The Yellow Affair has also sold Árru to international territories including Angel Distribution (Denmark), Bíó Paradís (Iceland), Filmwelt (Germany, Austria), Fivia (Ex-Yugoslavia), Otaku Mtü (Baltics), Palace (Australia / New Zealand).

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Tatcha’s top three stock keeping units today include its $74 Dewy Skin Cream, one jar of which is sold every 30 seconds, as well as the lightweight Water Cream and Rice Wash face wash, priced at $74 and $40, respectively.

— Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sell

Verb

The Property Masters Guild aims to highlight and elevate the craft of the Property Master by raising awareness, fostering collaboration among craft artisans, educating its members and inspiring future generations of Property Masters.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
As Altman absorbs the public’s fears and frustrations over AI, the company has recently sought to elevate Brockman’s profile as a counterweight.

— Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

Producer and 10 Lives founder and CEO Daniel Catullo set the stage for such a party by introducing the film and encouraging audience members to get out of their seats during the showing and record clips of the doc.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
So his church—which has raised many millions of dollars for good causes, and operates a local food pantry and food truck—decided to distribute lawn signs simply encouraging people to be kind.

— Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

The deal amid Utah’s growing push for advanced nuclear power.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Aug. 2026
As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of grow

Verb

In her previous job as mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum expressed outrage when a conservative critic proposed publicizing a list of prominent supporters of her leftist Morena political party.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
SpaceX has promised to adopt mitigation strategies in their filings, but other companies have not publicized plans for any mitigation efforts, and the FCC has declared that light pollution from satellites is, by and large, not under its control.

— Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of publicize

Verb

The Federal Drug Administration has upgraded a recall on frozen blueberries distributed at Publix stores to Class 1, the highest risk level.

— Eva Flowe, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Between now and the start of the season, however, Vancouver may have significant opportunities to upgrade its defensive options on the waiver wire.

— Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of upgrade

Verb

But cultivating consumer trust, as opposed to pursuing rapid product expansion and chasing virality, has become a defining — and differentiating — aspect of Westman Atelier’s go-to-market model.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Over the past decade, Blank Forms has cultivated relationships with dozens of artists working across disciplines, engaged in experimental practice and cultural preservation.

— News Desk, Artforum, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

Finite’s founder, Amy Gardner, has producing credits on the likes of And Then Come the Nightjars, La Bohème, Honeytrap, and My House, and worked on the stage productions of Nuclear Children and The Joy of Text.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Giske added that previous trips to Haugesund had produced partnerships the company had not originally anticipated.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of produce

Browse Nearby Words

promos

promote

promoted

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Promote.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promote. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of promote

verb

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