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
  • And in the years since, the Honeywells have quietly given back to the island, supporting the local arts community, food bank and animal shelter and giving scholarships through their foundation.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • Created by artist Rafael Blanco, the colorful mural reflects the organization's mission of supporting immigrant families and farmworkers across the Coastside.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 27 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
  • There was an email about Nuno staying, then constant emails about renewing.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • This led to a series of legal challenges, with a federal judge ultimately staying the termination of TPS for Somalia in March, citing ongoing warfare and violence.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolstering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolstering. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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