1
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
used additional beams to bolster the ceiling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in reinforcing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bolstering
Cabo Cabo is popping with new and renovated hotels, further bolstering its front-row positioning as a Hollywood travel mainstay.
—
Carole Dixon, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Bender added that Churchill Downs bolstering its portfolio with the Preakness could allow the company to streamline sponsorship, media rights and hospitality offerings, while improving its overall ability to monetize racing events.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Monster could accelerate its growth by bolstering its presence in Europe and Latin America, while new brand acquisitions would allow the firm to target more female customers as well as wellness and price-focused shoppers.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
So far this year, domestic box office revenue is up more than 20% compared with the same time period last year, bolstering hopes across the industry that 2026 will mark a rebound from the downturn of the pandemic.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Struckhoff presented the potential sale of the estate and mansion as a strategic move to bring in more tourism, bolstering the city’s economy over time.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Both actions are part of a new Spain-Boston biotechnology initiative, as the Spanish government sees the hub as a catalyst for bolstering its transatlantic partnership with the United States.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Its small population doubled, bolstering its reputation as a campestral hub of distilleries, wineries, olive orchards, and other Texas delights.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
The tariffs assessed to larger drug companies will take effect July 31 unless companies commit to price concessions and bolstering domestic manufacturing.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Carole Dixon, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Bender added that Churchill Downs bolstering its portfolio with the Preakness could allow the company to streamline sponsorship, media rights and hospitality offerings, while improving its overall ability to monetize racing events.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Monster could accelerate its growth by bolstering its presence in Europe and Latin America, while new brand acquisitions would allow the firm to target more female customers as well as wellness and price-focused shoppers.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
So far this year, domestic box office revenue is up more than 20% compared with the same time period last year, bolstering hopes across the industry that 2026 will mark a rebound from the downturn of the pandemic.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Struckhoff presented the potential sale of the estate and mansion as a strategic move to bring in more tourism, bolstering the city’s economy over time.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Both actions are part of a new Spain-Boston biotechnology initiative, as the Spanish government sees the hub as a catalyst for bolstering its transatlantic partnership with the United States.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Its small population doubled, bolstering its reputation as a campestral hub of distilleries, wineries, olive orchards, and other Texas delights.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
The tariffs assessed to larger drug companies will take effect July 31 unless companies commit to price concessions and bolstering domestic manufacturing.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolstering
Verb
-
Over Your Dead Body knows that sustaining a harmonious union amid petty jealousies, paranoia, and personal flaws is hard; navigating a hostage situation involving desperate sickos and sociopaths is even harder; and maintaining a balance of laughs and gag-reflex tweaking is the hardest of it all.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The remark conveyed a familiar image of American military power, a projection of being technologically unmatched, logistically dominant and capable of sustaining operations indefinitely.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It was initially made available exclusively on the streaming service Tidal, reinforcing its status as a visual album rather than a traditional rollout.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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Smaller, independent businesses often have more flexibility to source locally, and your dollars are more likely to circulate through an entire regional supply chain instead of reinforcing national ones.—
Maryam Ahmed,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Snitker was emotional, thanking Ronnie for supporting him in this career for all these decades.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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Investors bought tech stocks viewed as supporting the AI infrastructure buildout and dumping those seen as threatened by its adoption.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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Asia-to-Europe or intra-Asia trade lanes often go through the strait, and vessels carrying cargo from other apparel manufacturing countries including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Myanmar are likely using the passage.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The case has since taken several turns, with a lower-court ruling in 2021 that the plaintiffs did not have standing and also saying that they were bound by a state Supreme Court 1985 decision upholding the 1982 law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
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Some said the commercial, with a conventionally attractive, white, thin, blonde woman with blue eyes at its center, was upholding Sweeney as the beauty standard.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sycamore Valley Ranch is what the property was called when it was first introduced to Michael by Paul McCartney, who was staying there, in the late ‘80s.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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The armed assailant, who investigators believe was staying at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, ran past a security checkpoint before being apprehended after a brief pursuit that included gunfire.—
Josh Wingrove,
Bloomberg,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolstering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolstering. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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