observer, bystander, onlooker, spectator, eyewitness, viewer, beholder, watcher, testifier, deponent, attester, perceiver, looker-on, witnesser, seer
supports - maintains - defends - sustains - endorses - champions - backs advocates - preserves - protects - confirms - validates - affirms - bolsters - reinforces - justifies - sanctions - approves - ratifies - corroborates - secures - underpins - fortifies - stands by - stands up for - sticks up for - keeps - guards - conserves - perpetuates - upholds
To 'uphold' means to maintain or support something, especially laws, principles, or decisions. It often implies the preservation of a state of affairs, confirming the validity of something, or standing by a decision. For example, when a court upholds a previous ruling, it means that the ruling remains valid and is supported by the current legal judgment.