bolster

²bolster

verb

bol·steredbol·ster·ing\-st(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of BOLSTER

transitive verb

1

: to support with or as if with a bolster : reinforce

2

: to give a boost to <news that bolstered his spirits>

— bol·ster·er \-stər-ər\ noun

Examples of BOLSTER

1. She came with me to bolster my confidence.
2. a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker's reputation
3. She is thinking of ways to bolster her career.

First Known Use of BOLSTER

15th century

Related to BOLSTER

Synonyms: bear, support, brace, buttress, carry, prop (up), shore (up), stay, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold

Related Words: steady, truss, underlie

Near Antonyms: undercut, undermine, weaken

see all synonyms and antonyms

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