buttress 1 of 2

Definition of buttressnext
1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2

buttress

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for a brace buttressed the wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) a mass of circumstantial evidence buttresses the prosecutor's case

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buttress
Noun
The tree has buttress roots, adding to the visible support. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 Together, the data points buttress worries from some Federal Reserve policymakers that the coast is far from clear for the labor market and may require more policy support — in the form of interest rate reductions — if the current state of play persists. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
To buttress their case, prosecutors put Brieanna Eberly on the stand. Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 May 2026 Concrete has been buttressed to prevent it from collapsing and crushing workers. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
  • Since then Keiper has bounced between anchor/reporter gigs at WLS-AM 890, WBBM-AM 780 and a Waukegan station, even serving six years as Midwest correspondent at Fox News Radio.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • Perry’s stepfather, the news anchor Keith Morrison, gave the only courtroom address from the family.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • No other candidates reached double-digit support, including Democratic San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan with 7%, Democratic former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with 5% and Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond with 1%, the poll found.
    John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
  • As well as turning to the club’s head of medicine and performance Jonathan Power and psychologist Lee Richardson, Liverpool brought in grief counsellors to ensure there was sufficient support.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • And in part, that’s because the technology that sustains it has become so complicated and so complex that no one can be across all of it.
    Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
  • The carefree, hyper-commercial fantasy once sold by the music industry feels harder to sustain in an era shaped by economic anxiety, climate dread, burnout culture, and perpetual online consciousness.
    Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • Economic analysis in the January 2026 White House Council of Economic Advisors report reinforces the advantages of this approach.
    Nicole Huyer, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • It is also intended to support rehabilitation, repairing harm to the community and those directly impacted by the offender’s action, and reinforcing community norms and values.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • Businesses are no longer viewed solely as economic actors, but as pillars of stability tasked with educating and orienting their teams and customers.
    Tatevik Simonyan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • The hub aligns with Hellmann’s Forward2030 strategy, strengthening the company’s fashion vertical as one of the pillars of long-term growth within its global network.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • The weekend also presents an ideal opportunity to bolster the defensive front.
    Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
  • Europe bolsters military alliances over Russia fears Mounting concern in Europe over Russia’s military ambitions — and a lack of confidence in US support — is driving new defense alliances across the continent.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Its wealthy, environmentally minded consumers became the backbone of its electric car business.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • And anyone who doesn’t have the backbone to stand up to Trump and recognize a basic fact of our democracy shouldn’t be trusted as our governor.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
Noun
  • For too long, quality reinforcements had not been signed.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • And as if Cole’s return wasn’t enough, the Yankees hope to have more rotation reinforcements down the road.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on buttress

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster