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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

To affirm something

Hello,
Are affirm and support synonyms in these sentences: "They must reach, they must affirm, they must reflect us, in both delight and sorrow.", "If I've read him correctly, most of the comments here affirm Casper's point.", "Connecticut was the first state to voluntarily pass laws to affirm civil unions."?

Cambridge Dictionary says: "affirm = to show support for an idea or opinion; to state something as true;"
  

Top answer

Gene93 Are affirm and support synonyms in these sentences Not exactly. To my ear, 'to affirm' is more like 'to support by claiming the truth or rightness (of something) in speech or writing , often publicly'. 'support' seems like a weaker idea to me.

— CalifJim

  • Gene93 Are affirm and support synonyms in these sentences Not exactly.
  • To my ear, 'to affirm' is more like 'to support by claiming the truth or rightness (of something) in speech or writing , often publicly'.
  • 'support' seems like a weaker idea to me.
  • You can support the idea of equal rights for all while sitting quietly alone in your armchair at home; I would never describe that as affirming that idea.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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Gene93Are affirm and support synonyms in these sentences
Not exactly. To my ear, 'to affirm' is more like 'to support by claiming the truth or rightness (of something) in speech or writing, often publicly'. 'support' seems like a weaker idea to me. You can support the idea of equal rights for all while sitting quietly alone in your armchair at
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So, if I affirm the idea of human rights I am more likely to do it in public. Thank you, Jim. In the sentence about Connecticut, the civil unions have been "supported" publicly, yes? Therefore, therefore they were affirmed.

Of course, at Tolpuddle we self-consciously affirm solidarity of working people. - It has been done publicly, hasn't it?

Thanks for everything, Jim
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Gene93In the sentence about Connecticut, the civil unions have been "supported" publicly, yes?
Yes. Passing laws is always public.
Gene93Of course, at Tolpuddle we self-consciously affirm solidarity of working people. - It has been done publicly, hasn't it?
No idea. When I say that a word sounds to me like it has a
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