bolstering

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

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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 County executive James Williams expects the most likely incoming governor, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, would be more supportive of bolstering healthcare funding, and maintains state support will be essential in coming years. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 In the Sunday talks, however, Tehran and Washington agreed on mechanism aimed at ensuring peace in Lebanon and bolstering security in the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil would typically pass before the war. Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Sproxton talked about the role Channel 4 played in bolstering UK animation. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 21 June 2026 Such a scenario, in all probability, reduces the chances of United bolstering that part of head coach Michael Carrick’s squad. David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Further bolstering the country as a prime location is the new Olivewood Film Studios, located in Amman. Ed Meza, Variety, 15 June 2026 Adidas is bolstering its relationship with Nordstrom with the launch of a national retail partnership celebrating the FIFA World Cup 2026, the world’s largest sporting event and the first to be hosted in North America since 1994. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 4 June 2026 Beijing, Iran’s largest trading partner and the main buyer of Iranian oil, has backed Pakistan, too, bolstering the country’s credibility even further. Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 3 June 2026 Peterson’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Minneapolis, the mayor noted, with the city in the middle of major public safety reforms, while bolstering staffing levels, working to reduce violent crime and building trust with the residents. Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolstering
Verb
  • What is difficult is sustaining them under pressure.
    Peter Doyle, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • His father operated multiple companies across different sectors, exposing him early to the mechanics of building and sustaining an enterprise.
    Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Japan is also expanding drone capabilities, upgrading air power with F-35s and next-generation fighters, and reinforcing its Southwest Islands with military assets.
    Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • In addition to reinforcing graphic-design tropes, Claude Design tends to direct all of its users toward the same libraries of open-source code, the tools behind user-interface design.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • All proceeds to the sell-out show, which was simulcast on ESPN, benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the MSG non-profit supporting children in need.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 20 June 2026
  • Infantry attempting to move along the front, vehicle convoys transporting supplies, command posts coordinating operations, and artillery units supporting assaults are increasingly vulnerable to Ukrainian drone operators who can identify and strike targets with unprecedented speed and precision.
    Hunter LaCroix, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Manco only reluctantly starts carrying a gun after his first robbery, concerned that doing so would only lead to more violence.
    Elena Lazic, Variety, 26 June 2026
  • One of the historical laws Hawaii pointed to was an 1865 Louisiana statute, adopted after the Civil War, to prevent anyone from carrying a gun onto a plantation without the landowner’s permission.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The ruling, penned by Justice Samuel Alito, reverses lower court opinions upholding the protections and sends the case back to lower courts for next steps.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
  • Dedicated to upholding the natural ecosystem, the pristine beaches, and inexplicably blue sea provide some of the most spectacular diving sites in the world, all within a short driving distance of the local towns and UNESCO World Heritage site and capital, Willemstad.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Johnson County’s annual Point In Time Count — a federal requirement that counts the number of people staying outside or in a shelter one night in January — shows that the number of individuals increased by 27% from last year, according to preliminary data.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
  • Drinking water with your evening meal and staying hydrated throughout the day helps fiber work properly and keeps stool soft.
    Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolstering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolstering. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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