Uphold
What it means
To support, maintain, or defend a principle, right, decision, or standard.
Reach for it when praising action that keeps a stated commitment real under pressure
Good leaders uphold the same safety rules for every team.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
|
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playful
stand by
Fits when personal loyalty fits
Careful Stand by can imply passive waiting or uncritical allegiance.
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everyday
Fits when backing a cause or rule is enough
Careful Support may be verbal and not keep it in effect.
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warm
Fits when faithful respect for a promise matters
Careful Honor can be ceremonial without enforcement.
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professional
Fits when protecting against challenge is central
Careful Defend can preserve a harmful position.
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professional
Fits when continued operation or observance matters
Careful Maintain is neutral and may lack moral commitment.
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formal
Fits when preventing loss across time is central
Careful Preserve can resist needed change.
Opposites 3
- violate
- abandon
- overturn
Common phrases 3
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uphold standards
Managers uphold standards by applying them to their own decisions.
-
uphold a decision
The court chose to uphold a decision supported by the record.
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uphold rights
The policy must uphold rights during emergencies as well as ordinary days.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated