anchor 1 of 2

noun

ˈaŋ-kər How to pronounce anchor (audio)
Definition of anchornext
1
as in newscaster
one who reads and introduces news reports on a news program the news anchor coordinated the reports of the correspondents from around the state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in backbone
something or someone to which one looks for support my best friend has been my anchor throughout this crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

anchor

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fasten
to put securely in place or in a desired position used ropes and sandbags to anchor the hot-air balloon to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to land
to stop at or near a place along the shore we'll anchor at Praia, Cape Verde

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 anchor
Noun
Where the model has broken down is when departures happened without an anchor — when members left the group itself rather than just the label, or when a member’s exit was involuntary or acrimonious rather than mutually agreed. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of clay jars known as amphorae were discovered inside the wrecked ship, alongside lead anchor stocks and other artifacts, police said. — Isabella Colletta, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
And while the original perfume has a white amber base, this one is anchored in black amber—an earthier, more resinous player. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026 At the Port of Ningbo, over 800 commercial vessels anchored during the storm are re-entering pilotage channels, the logistics provider told clients. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anchor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anchor
  1. newscaster
  2. backbone
  3. fasten
  4. land
  5. broadcaster
  6. pillar
  7. secure
  8. dock
Noun
  • The newscaster then asked Percy — sporting a baseball cap, glasses, and a collared shirt — if people often mention their likeness.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There’s something powerful—and, yes, stripped down—about seeing these politicians and newscasters without being able to hear their language.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of newscaster
Noun
  • While federal policy typically focuses on new construction or subsidized housing, NOAH owners are the backbone of our affordable housing ecosystem, accounting for 75% of affordable homes nationwide.
    — Maggie Cassidy, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Like building a giant erector set, Meir and Menon worked to assemble and bolt together the triangular brackets on the 3B power channel, located on the far right, or starboard (S6) segment of the station's backbone truss.
    — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of backbone
Verb
  • These mini bottles can fasten right onto the top of your favorite perfume nozzles for easy filling—they’re ready for travel in a few short pumps!
    — Hayley Domin, Travel + Leisure, 8 Aug. 2026
  • That, plus the heavy weight, should provide significant theft deterrence, but the Olto’s kickstand also has a place to use a more traditional lock to fasten it to something.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fasten
Verb
  • Val Kilmer landed the lead role of Chris Knight almost instantly.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The pay is so high that landing an entry-level analyst position at an investment bank feels like a golden ticket, especially for a first-generation student, a student from a low-income background, or a student with any student loan debt.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of land
Noun
  • Iran's state broadcaster published the statement by the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
    — Duarte Dias, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Iran’s state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of broadcaster
Noun
  • Attacking Sabalenka’s serve was the main pillar of Alexandrova’s strategy.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The living space would be elevated on pillars with parking and storage underneath — a common design along the coast.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillar
Verb
  • It may also be remembered as the moment volleyball secured its rightful place among America's premier spectator sports.
    — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Historical Center worked with the government of Papua New Guinea to secure all the permissions to legally recover parts of the plane, Fiandt said.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of secure
Verb
  • The boat will dock at nine different locations around the city, from Watertown Square to Cambridgeport, the Hatch Shell and TD Garden.
    — Levan Reid, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • One or both landers will take part in next year’s Artemis III, a docking rehearsal in orbit around Earth.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of dock

Browse Nearby Words

ancestry
anchor
anchorage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anchor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anchor. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on anchor

Nglish: Translation of anchor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anchor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All