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
1
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

3
4
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
So regenerative has to regenerate livelihoods and communities too, including decent work and supporting the women who do much of the labor in cotton in many contexts. — Sj Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 While Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia is planning to escalate with drone or rocket strikes on European allies supporting Ukraine, other countries have called for calm. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 Colfax Mayor Caroline McCully and City Council member Kim Douglass signed the ballot argument supporting Measure I. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Among the clues supporting an asteroid origin are mineral and chemical signatures identified in material collected from the region that researchers have argued are consistent with a stony or carbonaceous asteroid. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Deutsche Bank highlighted a Space Development Agency letter supporting satellite testing as evidence of progress in expanding AST's government business. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 The Danish service said the aim of any such attack would be to divert European resources away from supporting Ukraine and sow division in NATO. — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Ahead of the premiere’s conclusion, Variety exclusively reported that Neon’s awards campaign for the film will include Garfield and Rylance competing in the supporting actor category and Borisov campaigning in lead actor. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 Service is low-key but practical, with staff supporting both wellness programming and basic logistics like airport pickups. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supporting
Adjective
  • But the study also found that fewer than half of employees agreed that their organizations encouraged transparent communication or invested in developing fair and supportive managers.
    — Michael Corvini, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Wireless, supportive, and simple to store, this is the purchase your home’s been missing all along.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But, in a moment where the AI industry is filled with existential anxiety, and even its leaders are calling for brakes, Haugen isn’t advocating for a pause in AI development.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Primetime Emmy winner, who was feted for advocating for women’s health during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was under the weather and could not make the trip.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Related Stories The shows see Reinvent Yellow, one year after the merger of Yellow Film Studios and REinvent, keeping premium Nordic shows at its core while gradually expanding into English-language titles.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Soleil’s Shimmering Body Oil, bridging makeup and fragrance, is the brand’s top-selling stock-keeping unit in specialty/multi doors.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The secretary of state said the negotiations must involve all sectors of Venezuelan society and ultimately produce not only free elections but also institutions capable of sustaining democracy over the long term.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When a storm, usually fed by unusually warm water, suddenly gathers a lot of strength, sustaining winds that increase in speed by at least 35 mph (56 kph) in 24 hours, it is called rapid intensification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Residents walked and rode bicycles along the boardwalk as dozers and excavators moved along the beach, reinforcing the several-foot-high berms built to protect homes from the ocean waves.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For Jim, the potential debt raise is a win for both companies, reinforcing the idea that Nvidia customers are generating strong returns on their AI investments.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Over the years, the town was a major post for government forces defending Taiz.
    — AHMED AL-HAJ, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Much of the discussion surrounding this week’s game centers around how the Georgia defense will go about defending Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell.
    — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Severe disruptions to internet and cellphone networks have made gathering and verifying information from Tigray difficult, although some connectivity was reported Sunday.
    — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In the middle, verifying the work requires nearly as much labor as doing it.
    — Adriana Munoz Vergara, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Video posted to Facebook by the sheriff's office in Alabama shows police assisting an SUV driver on a road in Dale County during the storm.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
  • By transporting supplies, supporting reconnaissance activities, and assisting with casualty evacuation, unmanned ground vehicles can potentially reduce soldiers’ physical workload while extending their operational reach.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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