stands up for
Backs someone publicly
Stands up for means to defend or support someone or something, especially when they're being criticized or threatened.
The phrase implies courage or loyalty—you stand up for a friend being bullied, stand up for your principles when pressured to compromise, or stand up for yourself when treated unfairly: Nobody else would stand up for her, so I did.
- defendProtect from harm
- endorsesGives public support to
- upholdMaintain or confirm officially
- vindicateClear of wrongdoing
- advocatePublic cause supporter
champion · ally · protect · has your back · back · justify · support · assert · represents · solidarity · moral compass · integrity · promotes · equality · altruism · empowerment · human rights · fairness
stands up forbetrays
Acts against one's allies
attacks · opposes · turns against · undermines · denounces
stands up forlooks the other way
Ignores something deliberately
stands by · backs down · cowers · shrinks away · goes along with
stands up forabandons
Ceases to support
deserts · looks the other way · turns a blind eye · ignores · stands by
stand, stands, standing, fore, stand-up, standoff, standout, standpoint, upstanding