Uphold, v. t.
1. To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate. The mournful train with groans, and hands upheld. Besought his pity. Dryden.
2. To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling; to maintain. Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. Prov. xxix 3. Faulconbridge, In spite of spite, alone upholds the day. Shak.
3. To aid by approval or encouragement; to countenance; as, to uphold a person in wrongdoing.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for uphold; he lists it under abet, confirm, help, support.
Where he writes about it:
A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. — from abet
Encourage refers to mental aid, as uphold now usually does; succor and support, oftenest to material assistance. — from help
We encourage the timid or despondent, succor the endangered, support the weak, uphold those who else might be shaken or cast down. — from help
Synonyms
Antonyms
abandonabashabrogateabuseannulattackbafflebetraybreak downcancelcast downconfoundcounteractdemolishdenouncedesertdestroydeterdisapprovedisconcertdiscouragedissuadedropexposefrustratehinderimpedelet goobstructopposeoverthrowrenounceresistshakeshattersubvertthrow downthwartunsettleupsetweakenwithstandwreck