" backers "

1: a person who actively supports or favors a cause;

  * e.g., " ... backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse "

•  Synonyms : 

•  advocates,

•  advocators,

•  apostles,

•  boosters,

•  champions,

•  espousers,

•  exponents,

•  expounders,

•  friends,

•  gospelers,

•  heralds,

•  hierophants,

•  high priests,

•  paladins,

•  promoters,

•  proponents,

•  protagonists,

•  supporters,

•  true believers,

•  tub-thumpers,

•  white knights

•  Antonyms : 

•  adversaries,

•  antagonists,

•  opponents

2: a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing;

  * e.g., " ... all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions "

•  Synonyms : 

•  guarantors,

•  patrons,

•  sponsors,

•  sureties

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support;

  * e.g., " ... the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abettors,

•  allies,

•  bedfellows,

•  confederates,

•  fellow travelers,

•  supporters,

•  sympathizers

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: a person who actively supports or favors a cause;

  * e.g., " ... backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse "

•  Synonyms : 

•  advocate,

•  advocator,

•  apostle,

•  booster,

•  champion,

•  espouser,

•  exponent,

•  expounder,

•  friend,

•  gospeler,

•  herald,

•  hierophant,

•  high priest,

•  paladin,

•  promoter,

•  proponent,

•  protagonist,

•  supporter,

•  true believer,

•  tub-thumper,

•  white knight

•  Antonyms : 

•  adversary,

•  antagonist,

•  opponent

2: a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing;

  * e.g., " ... all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions "

•  Synonyms : 

•  guarantor,

•  patron,

•  sponsor,

•  surety

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support;

  * e.g., " ... the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abettor,

•  ally,

•  bedfellow,

•  confederate,

•  fellow traveler,

•  supporter,

•  sympathizer

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to promote the interests or cause of;

  * e.g., " ... she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities "

•  Synonyms : 

•  advocate,

•  champion,

•  endorse,

•  patronize,

•  plump (for),

•  plunk (for),

•  support

•  Antonyms : 

•  hinder

2: to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end;

  * e.g., " ... a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abet,

•  aid,

•  assist,

•  backstop,

•  help,

•  prop (up),

•  support

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea);

  * e.g., " ... the author needs to back her thesis with more facts "

•  Synonyms : 

•  bolster,

•  buttress,

•  corroborate,

•  reinforce,

•  shore (up),

•  substantiate,

•  support

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)