maintains

verb

present tense third-person singular of maintain
1
as in preserves
to keep in good condition he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby

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2
as in defends
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges

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3
as in supports
to pay the living expenses of we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse

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4
as in argues
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes

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5
as in insists
to state as a fact usually forcefully he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of maintains The city owns the facility, but the Charlote Regional Visitors Authority maintains it. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026 Since then, Andrew has been keeping a low profile and maintains his innocence. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2026 While formally a candidate for European Union membership, Serbia’s accession process has stalled under Vucic, who maintains close ties with Russia and China. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 The real risk is that a criminal could forge your signature on a deed or trick you into signing paperwork that transfers ownership, then file that document with the local office that maintains property records. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 The parish maintains such admissions would violate church's right to the free exercise of religion. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026 The office also maintains state archives and manages lobbyist registrations and campaign finance disclosures. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Around half of that number are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which maintains detailed records that international organizations consider reliable. — Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 AdGuard also maintains a zero-logging policy and uses its own security protocol. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maintains
  1. preserves
  2. defends
  3. supports
  4. argues
  5. insists
  6. conserves
  7. justifies
  8. keeps
Verb
  • Spread over two levels, the 3,200-square-foot unit preserves some of the existing architecture by Vincenzo De Cotiis.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Expanding locations provides revenue generation, yet maintaining consistency preserves the brand that enabled expansion in the first place.
    — Tushar Mishra, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of preserves
Verb
  • The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the country.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Different views on the topic Hilton defends the ad as a humorous, provocative way to reach Californians who are dissatisfied with the state’s direction but might not ordinarily consider voting Republican.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of defends
Verb
  • The fact that hunting is a season — and not a year-round activity — supports this.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Though the pipeline hasn’t transported gas to Germany since 2022, the country’s far-right AfD supports resuming flows, which could allow US investors to profit.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • Ideas expressed in the piece The article argues that the rollback favors automakers and the oil industry over consumers, public health and the climate.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Chidgasornpongse argues that capitalist accumulation can persist even within such sacred walls.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of argues
Verb
  • Sakol insists the merit-making should be organized around the number nine, which represents good fortune in Thai culture.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Picking up right where the previous episode left off, this one starts with River and Sid in a retro-’80s bowling alley looking for a pay phone because Sid still insists on getting in contact with Diana Taverner.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of insists
Verb
  • In Boise, a growing number of people have turned to xeriscaping in recent years, which is a type of landscaping that conserves water by using native or drought-tolerant plants, according to previous Statesman reporting.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This approach reduces development time, conserves resources, and quickly delivers new capabilities to the battlefield.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of conserves
Verb
  • In instances like these, and there are many of them, one realizes how the novel acquires, and justifies, its title.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • And for four consecutive games, the running back unit has proved it more than justifies the hype.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of justifies
Verb
  • Seeing that table filled with this much talent, funding and support is what keeps us going.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Moon entering your 11th House keeps social connection available without requiring full disclosure.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of keeps

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Cite this Entry

“Maintains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maintains. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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