supporting 1 of 2

as in supportive
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something scientists looking for direct supporting evidence of microscopic black holes, the existence of which is theoretical

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

supporting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of support
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2
as in keeping
to pay the living expenses of a young widow supporting a sick mother as well as two small children on a teacher's salary

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in reinforcing
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) studies that support the claim that red wine drinkers have a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 supporting
Adjective
The incredible supporting cast is made up entirely of old-hand character actors, promising but underknown newcomers, and comedy- or comedy-adjacent figures with passionate niche followings and Gumby-esque limbs. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026 Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line. Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, Mercury in your private 12th house sextiles Venus in your 2nd House of Resources, supporting quiet decisions around money, self-worth, and peace. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 Johnson said the development could add to the local tax base while supporting construction and information technology jobs. Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Patel, whose company is building infrastructure supporting the AI boom, expects AI agents to go mainstream, allowing demand to continue its explosive growth. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Our Florida government should be supporting EVs, not working against them. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Many aid organizations were already on the ground in Choco supporting a 2016 peace accord between the government and leftist rebels, and responding to violence in the region involving other armed groups that has persisted since then. ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The two famously won an Oscar for writing the script to Good Will Hunting, which starred Damon and had Affleck in a supporting role and was directed by Gus Van Sant. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 That year, international students contributed $43 billion to the economy, supporting 356,000 jobs. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 That scarcity mindset extends well beyond the romance, as the film’s various supporting characters broadly accept corporate manipulation and government overreach as unavoidable conditions of life. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
  • This is also supportive for pricing your work, recognizing your talent, or making money decisions with more confidence.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The company said feedback during that period was strongly supportive.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The disclosures don’t specify what the lobbyists were advocating for or against.
    Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Ng countered, arguing AI redefines job tasks rather than eliminating roles, and accused large companies of exaggerating threats to stifle competition, advocating for open models to prevent gatekeeping.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But Kelly was barely thrown out at the plate, keeping the Jays alive for a brief moment.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The idea is that keeping their community healthy will keep kids in school learning.
    Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But sustaining that rotation has presented its own challenges.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • This is a foundational arrangement for sustaining North Korean livelihoods and stabilizing China’s northeastern border.
    ZHENG JIYONG, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The grants help pay for home improvements like upgrading roof coverings, retrofitting doors and windows, and reinforcing connections between walls and roofs.
    Jaclyn de Medicci Bruneau, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years, Vizard has watched visitors come to the farm to admire the birds, reinforcing her belief that the farm should continue to be used as an open space.
    Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter with a pitch in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers may have to relinquish their title to the surging Atlanta Braves.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • During a visit to Ituri last month, Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba said the government is verifying a list of those working to control the outbreak, as names of some doing unrelated work have been added to the payroll.
    Prosper Heri Ngorora, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This misalignment demands regulators focus on limiting AI access and independently verifying work, rather than just monitoring for malicious intent.
    Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • One of the departments assisting Shrewsbury firefighters said the search is for a missing person.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The pair would continue to collaborate over the years, with Orbit assisting on Madonna’s Music and MDNA.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Supporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supporting. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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