BACK Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of back are advocate , champion , support , and uphold . While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. // refusing to back the call for sanctions

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

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading. // advocated prison reform

Q: Where would 'champion' be a reasonable alternative to 'back'?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. // championed the rights of children

Q: When might 'support' be a better fit than 'back'?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. // supports waterfront development

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

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. // upheld the legitimacy of the military action

back 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of back next

as in ago

earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hence

as in around

toward the opposite direction turned back for one last comment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in backwards

toward the rear concert security asked the crowd to move back

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back

2 of 4

noun

ˈbak

as in rear

a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jugular

a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

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back

3 of 4

verb

as in to advocate

to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to aid

to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reinforce

to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind

being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Examples of back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

There were the archetypes of the English gent that was a popular thing back in the early 20th century. —

James Powel, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024 The duo attended a show in Philadelphia back in May, with some of their four children. —

Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024

Noun

Gestating a human brings with it all new types of aches and pains, from their legs to their back to their neck. —

Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024 Here’s what else to watch as USC hosts Rutgers on Friday at 8 p.m.: Rutgers’ big-time back (Rebecca S. Gratz / Associated Press) USC has had its share of trouble slowing Big Ten backs. —

Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

Verb

The race is closely watched due to the split endorsements from labor unions, with Roth supported by private-sector unions and Alameda backed by public-sector unions. —

USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 Garcia, who represents a Long Beach-Los Angeles-area congressional district, is a national co-chair of the Harris campaign and backed Harris’ 2020 primary bid. —

Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024

Adjective

The Oscar nominee spoke to People magazine and teased his retirement from the genre that reignited the back half of his acting career. —

Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 Try to complete three sets to failure for this one, paying attention not to let your lower back cave in. —

Jakob Roze, Health, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for back

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.