upholders
Keepers of standards
Upholders are people who maintain, support, or defend something—typically a principle, tradition, or institution: upholders of the law, upholders of democratic values.
The word implies active commitment to preserving what one believes in, often against opposition or erosion.
Those who shield others
- championsContest winners, top performers
- advocatesThose who support causes
- guardiansThose who protect others
- protectorsThose who guard others
keepers · custodians · stewards · maintainers · preservers · sustainers · enforcers · promoters
Moral soundness and consistency
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
honor · standards · traditions · customs · ideals · beliefs · codes · norms
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- justiceFair treatment under law
- courtsJudicial bodies or playing areas
statutes · ordinances · regulations · enforcement · compliance · legality · rule of law · civil liberties
Underlying support structure
- pillarUpright architectural support
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
constancy · firmness · reliability · dependability · solidity · permanence · resilience · durability
defenders
Those who shield others
- championsContest winners, top performers
- advocatesThose who support causes
- guardiansThose who protect others
protectors · keepers · custodians · stewards · maintainers · preservers · sustainers · enforcers · promoters · proponents
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
virtue · honor · standards · traditions · customs · ideals · beliefs · codes · norms · decency
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- justiceFair treatment under law
courts · statutes · ordinances · regulations · enforcement · compliance · legality · rule of law · civil liberties · due process
foundation
Underlying support structure
- pillarUpright architectural support
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
steadfastness · constancy · firmness · reliability · dependability · solidity · permanence · resilience · durability · security
- guildsguild hall, guild, craft guilds, guild halls, guildhall
upholdersopponents
Those who compete against
opposers · detractors · adversaries · challengers · antagonists
upholdersdestroyers
Fast armed naval vessels
demolishers · dismantlers · wreckers · abolishers · eradicators
upholdersviolators
Those who break rules
transgressors · breakers · offenders · infringers · defilers