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 The L’Oréal Paris event, part of its ethos of bolstering women’s empowerment, will be broadcast live on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox and L’Oréal Paris websites. Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025 There is a case to be made that AI can provide a worldwide means of bolstering mental health. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Another bill introduced in August wants to tackle the problem by bolstering domestic manufacturing of cranes. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Sep. 2025 Job openings ticked down in July to levels rarely seen since the Covid-19 pandemic, bolstering fears of cooling in the labor market. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025 Yatooma is currently the executive director of the Great Education Action, a nonprofit organization focused on bolstering parental involvement in public schools. Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025 The Chicago Bears have definitely pulled out all the stops to try and make life as easy as possible for quarterback Caleb Williams this offseason, adding even more weapons and bolstering their offensive line. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 Kim, Xi and Putin gathered for the military parade amid Ukrainian and Western concerns over the collaboration of the three nations in bolstering Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ongoing since February 2022. Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2025 Barrett has sided with the conservative majority in many cases, bolstering national gun rights, ending affirmative action, and limiting the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions in a more recent birthright citizenship decision. Solcyré Burga, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolstering
Verb
  • Average all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for major producers hover between $1,080 and $1,220 per ounce.
    Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This helps explain the S & P 500 churning to records without sustaining even a 3% pullback since May, placing valuations at cycle highs, while also creating room for disappointment or fatigue even if the Fed delivers as hoped .
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In 2008, the Second Chance Act extended potential stays from six to twelve months, reinforcing their role in reentry.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • By presenting Manuka honey as a spectrum rather than a one-size offering, Nate’s helps consumers find the right fit for their needs while reinforcing trust in their purchase.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Raki McGregor, who also serves as the board chair of Mecklenburg County’s workforce development board Charlotte Works, recently made waves by publicly supporting candidates for CMS school board before his tenure as a CMS consultant was up.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Among the supporting evidence filed by the government are three academic reports by scholars with deep knowledge of Islamic charities in Egypt.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Utah authorities released photos of the person of interest in the shooting on Thursday in which the individual can be seen on steps while carrying a black backpack and wearing a shirt with what appeared to be an American flag print on it.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Where other presentations emphasize nondescript techno music and straight-size models, Antonoff and Alexsandra showcased their designs through a who's who of celebrities, sporting their new looks while carrying shelter dogs available for adoption.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In other words, the leaders need to be the leaders while upholding the standards set forth by the coaching staff – a staff that had offseason turnover limited to one full-timer – while educating and guiding the younger players.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Earlier this year, Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts, who is also conservative, joined liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in a ruling upholding a lower court order that unfroze $2 billion in foreign aid.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Originally a mansion built in 1881, the 14-room boutique hotel feels like staying at your eccentric friend’s country home in the best way; splashy decor and mixed prints characterize the aesthetic, and many of the pieces are handmade or one-of-a-kind.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
  • That means staying alert to how AI systems influence our thinking and making conscious choices about when and how to engage with them.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bolstering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolstering. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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