Pushing up can be replaced with various synonyms, depending on the context. In the context of gardening, it can be substituted with "raising", "elevating", or "lifting" to indicate the action of lifting plants out of the soil. In the context of physical exercise, synonyms such as "pressing", "lifting", or "propelling" may be more suitable to indicate the movement of pushing the body upwards. In a more figurative sense, "promoting", "advancing", or "boosting" can be used to describe the action of pushing up one's career or social status. Ultimately, the choice of synonym will depend on the intended meaning and the context of the sentence.