MAINTAIN Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'maintain' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of maintain are assert , defend , justify , and vindicate . While all these words mean "to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable," maintain stresses firmness of conviction. // steadfastly maintained his innocence

Q: When would 'assert' be a good substitute for 'maintain'?

Although the words assert and maintain have much in common, assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim. // asserted her rights

Q: When could 'defend' be used to replace 'maintain'?

In some situations, the words defend and maintain are roughly equivalent. However, defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism. // defended his voting record

Q: When is it sensible to use 'justify' instead of 'maintain'?

The words justify and maintain can be used in similar contexts, but justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent. // the action was used to justify military intervention

Q: In what contexts can 'vindicate' take the place of 'maintain'?

The meanings of vindicate and maintain largely overlap; however, vindicate implies successfully defending. // his success vindicated our faith in him

maintain

verb

mān-ˈtān

Definition of maintain

as in to preserve

to keep in good condition he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby

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as in to defend

to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges

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as in to keep

to pay the living expenses of we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse

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as in to argue

to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes

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as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors

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How does the verb maintain differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of maintain are assert, defend, justify, and vindicate. While all these words mean "to uphold as true, right, just, or reasonable," maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

steadfastly maintained his innocence

When would assert be a good substitute for maintain?

Although the words assert and maintain have much in common, assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

asserted her rights

When could defend be used to replace maintain?

In some situations, the words defend and maintain are roughly equivalent. However, defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

defended his voting record

When is it sensible to use justify instead of maintain?

The words justify and maintain can be used in similar contexts, but justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to precedent.

the action was used to justify military intervention

In what contexts can vindicate take the place of maintain?

The meanings of vindicate and maintain largely overlap; however, vindicate implies successfully defending.

his success vindicated our faith in him

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 maintain Marshals said Hughes had been living in Las Vegas since February and maintained work ties in Nevada and California, FOX5 reported. — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Howard County's attorney maintained that the county was simply following state law. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Parton and Cyrus maintained a deep relationship over the years. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 The couple has maintained their Montecito mansion, as well as their Portugal vacation home. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maintain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maintain

Verb

Charles Bradshaw, community plans and liaison officer at Naval Base Coronado, said the bridge preserves vital defense access as part of the strategic highway network.

— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
Toll Brothers may have worked to preserve more oak trees than before, but this isn’t the last time Folsom will likely hear about preserving oak woodland.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of preserve

Verb

Alonso is leaning into Chelsea’s strength — the transitional attacking power of his front three — and working on protecting the weakness, giving up too much space for his team to defend.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of defend

Verb

In a rebuttal argument, prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo pointed to a scrapbook Davis kept containing articles about Shakur.

— Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Details of the contract have been mostly kept secret, as both companies said the agreement contained confidential business information.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of keep

Verb

Some officials argue that would let Iceland keep control of its waters, since no EU country has fished there for decades.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
While that figure was low, the researchers argued that even a small risk of unintended weapons use could be unacceptable in sensitive maritime confrontations.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of argue

Verb

The secretary insisted he is focused on leading the War Department.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
Alongside workers’ rights organization Arise Chicago and community organizing group Communities United, workers are now stepping forward to insist that the business give them their due — in full.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of insist

Verb

The government may not decide that Church teaching is insufficiently religious, insufficiently consistent with Catholic doctrine, or insufficiently compelling to justify an ecclesiastical policy.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Organizers of Tuesday's rally said the women were released from ICE detention after a judge granted their habeas corpus petitions, meaning the government was required to justify their continued detention.

— Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

Our team of Victim Advocates are supporting those involved in what happened today.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Easley said a community gathering organized in support of the brewery on Saturday drew a large crowd, with some of the drag brunch’s vendors and a food truck showing up to support the brewery.

— Evan Moore August 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of support

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“Maintain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maintain. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of maintain

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