WHITE KNIGHT Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

white knight

noun

Definition of white knight

as in proponent

a person who actively supports or favors a cause a deserving cause in need of a charismatic white knight who will galvanize public support

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 white knight To combat this, Walt Disney's nephew Roy and his business partner Stanley Gold put together a group which eventually chose Eisner, a real-life white knight whose job was to save the company rather than break it up. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Feb. 2026 Separately, the company has been hit with sale speculation, most recently that Anta Sports could be a white knight for the brand. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026 The last cliffhanger revolves around the fate of Agence Grateau, for which Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) had to bring aboard a white knight due to financial losses. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026 Season 5 also introduces colorful newcomers, like Minnie Driver, who plays a a penniless princess turned hustler who unexpectedly becomes Agence Grateau’s white knight. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for white knight

Recent Examples of Synonyms for white knight

Noun

On Monday, the act gained its highest-profile proponent yet when New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his support for the legislation.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Andrew Sweetman, the Scottish marine biogeochemist who led the work, hadn’t made such claims, but he was still pilloried by fellow-scientists, and proponents of mining accused him of being an anti-mining crusader.

— James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Some of us assist in delivery rooms, some of us administer medications, some of us advocate for our patients to insurance companies to make sure lifesaving is covered.

— Nancy Hagans, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
Banks, the first saxophonist to receive the prestigious Avery Fisher Award, is a tireless advocate for his instrument in the classical world.

— Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

His mind didn’t go blank; rather, all the what-ifs multiplied like exponents, crowding his thoughts and rendering him unable to envision anything else.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Often categorized along with Bellow and Bernard Malamud as exponents of a particularly Jewish-American sensibility, all three were additionally masters of the American voice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 June 2026

Definition of exponent

Browse Nearby Words

white-hot

white knight

white knights

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“White knight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20knight. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of white knight

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

balmy

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes