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

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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

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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

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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
Corbin’s arrival gives that group a heel anchor instead of a field of babyfaces jockeying for the same spot, which sharpens the direction heading into summer. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 Echo Park residents are mourning the closure of Burrito King, a 58-year-old late-night institution that served generations as a neighborhood anchor, social hub and unofficial after-hours stand. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Verb
Investors can anchor to the 50-day at $80, which is the level that matters most in a trend this clean. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Reaves’ close bond with Doncic anchors a fresh identity for a Lakers roster that has eight new players. — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 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
  • Veteran newscaster George Stephanopoulos, who attended the ceremony alongside his Good Morning America cohosts Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan, provided his own account of the vows on the Saturday morning broadcast of the morning news show.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026
  • Murder at The Hawaii Theatre alongside KHON-TV Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Definition of newscaster
Noun
  • Kelly looks into the camera and declares the Fairway attorney and former Obama Commerce Department official has the strength, judgment and backbone to continue her legacy.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • In those neighborhoods, buses are the backbone of mobility, and improving them is among the most effective ways to expand opportunity.
    — Mike Flynn, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
Definition of backbone
Verb
  • The best way for passengers to reduce their risk of injury is to follow crew instructions and keep their seat belts fastened when directed.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
  • On the rocks below, instructors help complete beginners fasten their harnesses, chalk their hands and search for the next hold on the granite wall.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
Definition of fasten
Verb
  • His eye-catching performances have put him on the radar of Europe’s top clubs, with Newcastle United keen to land the 20-year-old.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Garbrandt walked into the same counters that have ended his last several bad nights, and Yanez, who fights with his own reckless disregard for return fire, simply landed first and landed cleaner.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Definition of land
Noun
  • On Thursday, photos released by state broadcaster IRIB showed the commander sitting next to Khamenei’s casket during a farewell ceremony in Tehran.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Oraiokastro Mayor Pandelis Tsakiris said on Greece’s state broadcaster ERT that several businesses and homes were damaged but a clearer picture would emerge after authorities conducted a full evaluation.
    — Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of broadcaster
Noun
  • About 42% of Colombia’s territory is covered by Amazon rainforest, and the Petro administration made rainforest protection and a transition away from fossil fuels central pillars of its environmental agenda.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Early last year, El-Sayed travelled to Washington for introductory meetings with various pillars of the Democratic establishment.
    — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of pillar
Verb
  • Millions of homeowners who secured ultra-low mortgage rates before the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 are reluctant to sell because doing so would likely mean taking on a much more expensive mortgage.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Schabel’s follow-up, the literary adaptation Before Night Falls (2000), also premiered in Venice, winning a special Jury Prize and the Best Actor Silver Lion for lead Javier Bardem, who would go on to secure a Best Actor Oscar nom for the same role.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026
Definition of secure
Verb
  • As a ship docked on the shore, Baxter gathered her young divers together.
    — Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
  • Circular motifs carved into the doors are reminiscent of the portholes of luxury ocean liners that once docked nearby on the Hudson River.
    — Troy J. McMullen, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2026
Definition of dock

Browse Nearby Words

ancestry
anchor
anchorage
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Cite this Entry

“Anchor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anchor. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anchor

Nglish: Translation of anchor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anchor

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