bolster 1 of 2

1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for used additional beams to bolster the ceiling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) a couple of tournament wins would bolster the extravagant claims that have been made on behalf of the young golfer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bolster

2 of 2

noun

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 bolster
Verb
Newcastle had been monitoring him, but their biggest priority to bolster the goalkeeping area was, and still is, Burnley’s James Trafford. Pol Ballús, New York Times, 18 June 2025 The surge in American millionaires was bolstered by robust stock market returns, with the S&P 500 jumping more than 23% last year. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 18 June 2025
Noun
Cue the viridian green of the new Amedeo bed, with its padded structure and fine silk upholstery entirely hand-embroidered with a jungle motif that continues on the bedspread and the bolster pillows, or the deep red of the Pascal armchair with a dragon embroidered on the back. Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025 Neither has expanded Medicaid coverage through the 2010 Affordable Care Act, a key tool that researchers have found bolsters patients' financial security by protecting them from big medical bills and debt. Noam Levey, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bolster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolster
Verb
  • The nation’s second-largest school system has been able to sustain deficit spending because of reserves left over from more than $5 billion in one-time pandemic-relief aid.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
  • Yet his silence during the war — and the damage sustained across Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure — has raised new doubts about the regime’s preparedness and resilience.
    Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • But the narrative was reinforced Tuesday afternoon when Alphonso Davies, recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March, arrived at Canada’s hotel to support his teammates.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The property off Highway 1 resembles your own private headlands park with unparalleled panoramic views of the sea arches and the coastline.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025
  • Guests entered through the concrete arches, voids, and interlock spaces of the sprawling complex, which was built over four decades by the Catalan sculptor of the same name, and headed up one of the Escher-like staircases to view the jewels.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The results support other polls that show Mamdani closing the gap behind Cuomo, who has been the front-runner in the race for months.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 18 June 2025
  • The new platform was designed to be more intuitive and fashion-forward to better support textile industry users in compliance, product development, sourcing and education.
    Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Others are situated in the bottom bracket (that is, where the cranks meet the bike frame).
    Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, Wired News, 20 June 2025
  • This means another festive contest against a traditional ‘Big Six’ side — 15 of their previous 26 Premier League Christmas fixtures have come against those in that bracket — where Villa will be hoping to turn around their usually dismal festive form.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Just days before Nasrallah’s demise, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, activated a hack attack that caused explosions of handheld pagers carried by thousands of members of Hezbollah.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
  • Fine, elegant bubbles carry lifted aromas of raspberry, red apple skin, and rose petal.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Trump has not addressed whether talks with Iranian officials would also address its missile program and support for terrorist proxies — an important pillar for Israel.
    Laura Kelly, The Hill, 25 June 2025
  • Iranian hackers were charged last decade with several attempts to hack into banks and other pillars of the American economy.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The Supreme Court upheld a law that allows Americans injured by acts of terror in the Middle East to take Palestinian leadership groups to U.S. courts for damages.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
  • The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bolster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolster. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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