Moral support

Moral support

Moral support is a way of giving support to a person or cause, or to one side in a conflict, without making any contribution beyond the emotional or psychological value of the encouragement.

For example, in a war between two countries or alliances, a third nation may give moral support to one side, without actually participating in the conflict (for example, Paraguay in World War ll).

Another common example can be found in sports. By coming out to watch one's friend's team play a match, one is likely not directly supporting her team in any significant way (especially if there is no charge to attend), but one's friend may still feel encouraged by the moral support of one's presence.

The line between moral support and other forms of help is often hard to draw. For example, some athletes report that they play better when the spectators encourage them—and in some cases referees' decisions may be influenced by a partisan crowd.

There is also moral support that one can offer someone who is experiencing a difficult situation. One may not be able to offer any concrete assistance except empathy.

See also



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • moral support — noun Encouragement shown by approval rather than by active help • • • Main Entry: ↑moral * * * moral support ◇ Someone who gives you moral support helps you by supporting or encouraging you rather than by giving you money or practical help. She… …   Useful english dictionary

  • moral support — moral sup port noun uncount if you give someone moral support you encourage them, especially by going somewhere with them: His family had come with him to give him moral support …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • moral support — UK / US noun [uncountable] if you give someone moral support, you encourage them, especially by going somewhere with them His family had come with him to give him moral support …   English dictionary

  • moral support — noun Assistance given to a person or cause, usually without getting directly involved. I was very grateful to my sister who came along with me to the psychologist as moral support …   Wiktionary

  • moral support — /mɒrəl səˈpɔt/ (say moruhl suh pawt) noun 1. reassurance and encouragement: *cheer him up and give him moral support, because he will need all his friends at a difficult time like this –george johnston, 1964. 2. someone or something that provides …  

  • moral support — Synonyms and related words: aid, backing, carriage, carrying, maintenance, psychological support, reliance, security blanket, subsidy, subvention, support, supportive relationship, supportive therapy, sustaining, sustainment, sustenance,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • moral support — noun support or help of a psychological rather than physical nature …   English new terms dictionary

  • moral support — encouragement …   English contemporary dictionary

  • support — [n1] something that holds up structure abutment, agency, back, backing, base, bed, bedding, block, brace, buttress, collar, column, cornerstone, device, flotation, foothold, footing, foundation, fulcrum, groundwork, guide, hold, lining, means,… …   New thesaurus

  • moral — ► ADJECTIVE 1) concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour and the goodness or badness of human character. 2) conforming to accepted standards of behaviour. 3) psychological rather than physical or practical: moral support. ► NOUN… …   English terms dictionary

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