bolstering

verb

present participle of bolster
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

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 bolstering At the same time, Kpler said on Wednesday, tanker traffic in the strait has improved significantly from a low point earlier in the war, bolstering exports from the region. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 However, NetApp is not just focused on bolstering its enterprise solutions for data centers. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 Changing election years in Aurora would result in more people casting a ballot, bolstering participation and strengthening local democracy. — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026 The new mRNA vaccine has shown very good promise with bolstering immune response. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026 Rough Draft is launching a newsletter and print edition in Athens, bolstering the amount of dedicated local reporting in Georgia’s sixth-largest city. — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026 In the second quarter of 2026, L’Oréal’s Professional Products division, which includes the L’Oréal Professionnel brand, was key to bolstering the group’s strong growth overall. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 Over 90% of these funds would go towards bolstering the state’s healthcare system. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Colleges are experimenting with business-specific internships and bolstering training in AI tools. — Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolstering
  1. sustaining
  2. reinforcing
  3. supporting
  4. carrying
  5. upholding
  6. staying
Verb
  • The secretary of state said the negotiations must involve all sectors of Venezuelan society and ultimately produce not only free elections but also institutions capable of sustaining democracy over the long term.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When a storm, usually fed by unusually warm water, suddenly gathers a lot of strength, sustaining winds that increase in speed by at least 35 mph (56 kph) in 24 hours, it is called rapid intensification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sustaining
Verb
  • Residents walked and rode bicycles along the boardwalk as dozers and excavators moved along the beach, reinforcing the several-foot-high berms built to protect homes from the ocean waves.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For Jim, the potential debt raise is a win for both companies, reinforcing the idea that Nvidia customers are generating strong returns on their AI investments.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of reinforcing
Verb
  • So regenerative has to regenerate livelihoods and communities too, including decent work and supporting the women who do much of the labor in cotton in many contexts.
    — SJ Studio, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • While Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia is planning to escalate with drone or rocket strikes on European allies supporting Ukraine, other countries have called for calm.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of supporting
Verb
  • Nobody is accountable for carrying that signal across the business, another way of saying nobody owns it.
    — Jay Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The cost of carrying a credit card balance and getting a car loan have also increased.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of carrying
Verb
  • In April, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding an arbitrator’s findings that the union may follow the card-signing process as a path to represent the workers.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Rubio visited Portugal a day after delivering a speech in the Greek capital, Athens, urging European countries to save Western civilization by upholding the values and traditions of ancient Greece.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of upholding
Verb
  • For guests staying longer, the hotel can arrange activities including truffle hunts, seasonal wine harvest experiences, and tours of nearby towns and historical sites.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Right now, Character Technologies is staying tight-lipped about which assets might sell, with a spokesperson only reiterating prior statements from the company’s press release and court filings to Ars.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of staying

Browse Nearby Words

bolsterers
bolstering
bolsters
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Cite this Entry

“Bolstering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolstering. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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