bolster

noun

bol·ster | \ ˈbōl-stər

Definition of bolster

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a long pillow or cushion

2 : a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing (see bearing sense 5)

bolster

verb

bolstered; bolstering\ ˈbōl-st(ə-)riŋ

Definition of bolster (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to support with or as if with a bolster : reinforce lay bolstered up in bed extra men will bolster already augmented dock details— Stanley Levey

2 : to give a boost to news that bolstered his spirits

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Examples of bolster in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Even the seat-cushion bolsters are low enough to not give an annoying wedgie on entry or exit. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "550-hp Jaguar F-Pace SVR: all claws, fangs and growl in a velvet coat," 15 Sep. 2019 Inside are ergonomic seats with generous bolsters, good elbow room, and generous 19.9 cubic feet of rear cargo capacity behind the 60/40 second-row seats. — Sue Mead, Houston Chronicle, "Hyundai Veloster: Sporty compact curated with emotion, imagination," 13 Sep. 2019 The simple sport seats with manual height adjustment cradle and support without extreme bolsters. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "2019 Boxster 718: preserving Porsche purity," 18 Aug. 2019 Everything that isn’t wrapped in leather is carbon fiber, aluminum or ballistic nylon on high-wear areas like seat bolsters. — Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Chevy breaks the mold with faster, more sophisticated 2020 Corvette Stingray," 18 July 2019 Each of them was keen to produce break-out moments—of the kind that might fly on social media, inspire cash contributions and bolster campaigns ahead of a months-long slog. — The Economist, "The Democrats hold their first presidential primary debate," 27 June 2019 Funds allocated in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 to help governments in the Northern Triangle bolster security and crack down on transnational gangs will continue. — Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, "U.S. cuts millions in aid to Central America, fulfilling Trump's vow," 17 June 2019 The interior was striking, with black square-quilted seat inserts, contrast stitching and piping on the bolsters, plush door panels in brown, and wood on the dash and center stack. — Emma Jayne Williams, star-telegram, "Nissan Armada full-size SUV has plentyof room for the family, lots of technology," 17 June 2018 The black interior gets matching orange seat inserts, seat belts and knee bolsters. — Jeff Yip, Houston Chronicle, "Big boys’ toys: Camaro special edition pays tribute to iconic Hot Wheels," 9 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This will be his third stint with the organization, and Boston’s upcoming purchase of the Red Claws will bolster the connection of the two teams. — BostonGlobe.com, "You're using a browser set to private or incognito mode.," 16 Sep. 2019 Further bolstering Saturday’s block for UAA was sophomore Eve Stephens, whose performance also included a match-high 16 kills. — Anchorage Daily News, "Seawolf spikers leave Showcase tournament on winning note," 14 Sep. 2019 Finally, for the from-within glow, bolster your diet with items like sardines, olive oil, flax seeds, and avocados that are rich in omega-3s and fatty acids to help replace natural fats lost in cold weather. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Can You Prevent Dry Skin? 4 Expert Tips for Chilly Days Ahead," 13 Sep. 2019 At a strategic level, there needs to be incentives, policies, bolstered enforcement measures, and sufficient funding that can not only encourage, but make mandatory a culture of recycling. — Ronna Chao, Quartz, "I helped create a unique upcycling system—but it won’t solve fashion’s waste problem," 10 Sep. 2019 Congress must fund the government in the coming weeks, and lawmakers in both parties want meaningful legislative debates over Mr. Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada, gun safety legislation and bolstering election security. — Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, "Democrats to Broaden Impeachment Inquiry Into Trump to Corruption Accusations," 8 Sep. 2019 With a new coach, a new quarterback and a bolstered defensive secondary, can this team return to the playoffs for the first time in four years? — Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, "How the Broncos will fare in 2019, according to the national media," 6 Sep. 2019 But Cleveland does have a shaky offensive line, and the Titans bolstered their pass rush by drafting Harold Landry and signing pass-rusher Cameron Wake this offseason. — The Mmqb Staff, SI.com, "The MMQB Staff's Favorite Week 1 Bets Against the Spread," 5 Sep. 2019 The lawyer is arguing the recent clemency bolsters the case that Perez has good moral character and should be allowed back into the country. — Elvia Malagón, chicagotribune.com, "Deported Army vet hopeful he’ll be allowed to return to Chicago after governor’s pardon," 4 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bolster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.