propugnare
to advocate
verb proh-poo-NYAH-reh Rare
Origin: Latin propugnare (to fight in defense of), from pro- + pugnare (to fight).
Also means
to champion
Usage Note
Propugnare is a formal, literary verb meaning to actively advocate for or champion a cause. It is transitive and takes avere: ha propugnato la riforma per anni (he championed the reform for years). In everyday speech, difendere or sostenere are far more common; propugnare appears mainly in political essays, editorials, and formal writing.
Examples
"Il deputato ha sempre propugnato la pace."
Natural Translation
The MP has always advocated for peace.
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