The antonyms for the phrase "were supported" could be a number of things, depending on the context. Some possible antonyms might include "were opposed," "were hindered," "were impeded," or "were thwarted." These words all suggest a lack of backing, help, or assistance from others, which is the opposite of being supported. In some cases, the opposite of being supported might simply be that the person or group in question was ignored or overlooked, rather than actively opposed or blocked. Regardless of the specific antonym, the key takeaway is that being unsupported can be challenging or even frustrating, and may require individuals to rely more heavily on their own resources and abilities.