buttress 1 of 2

Definition of buttressnext
1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times

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2

buttress

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for a brace buttressed the wall

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2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) a mass of circumstantial evidence buttresses the prosecutor's case

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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 buttress
Noun
Three setbacks provide space for landscaped terraces, and at these floors, the structural columns slope inward, becoming tall buttresses that reintegrate into the latticework. Adam Williams april 21, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026 Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality. Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Energy, Elections, and Russian Subterfuge Russia, mired in the Ukraine conflict, currently lacks the military resources to immediately buttress its position in the South Caucasus. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 Two Runner is buttressed by a cavalcade of boisterously rootsy country acts all deeply versed in their genre’s bloodlines, who freely celebrate them with aplomb. Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
  • Katie Couric has had a prolific career in journalism—including becoming the first solo female anchor of an evening news program—but her career had rough beginnings that included sexism and harassment.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 June 2026
  • Verhoeff was an anchor in the top four for North Dakota and was key on its power play with his booming shot.
    Joe Smith, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Overall, half of Americans (50%) support displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, including 83% of White evangelicals and 72% of Republicans.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Trailing 3-1 in the third, Ohtani provided his own run support, singling to center to score Alex Freeland from second after the Dodgers infielder had led off with a double.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Those who have sustained a severe burn or dirty wound should follow up with a booster after five years, according to the CDC.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • The driver of the bus sustained minor injuries.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Looking back, McCloskey said the yearslong legal battle reinforced the value of perseverance.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026
  • If anything, Messi’s early absence reinforced why Argentina will enter the knockout stage as one of the favorites to win the tournament.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • One of the site’s 36 pillars — the tallest one in the middle — could be a perch for a big, pink, screeching bird.
    Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Its success or failure could help determine whether battery repurposing becomes a niche practice or a major pillar of the future energy-storage industry.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • The left-hander had originally been viewed as a potential midseason reinforcement for a team with postseason aspirations.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
  • That’s likely to change in Season 3, now that both factions have added key reinforcements.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Furthermore, owning infrastructure can bolster data privacy and sovereignty, mitigating cybersecurity risks amidst increasing breaches.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • The energetic Ecuadoran team, bolstered by a goal and a raucous crowd, has been given new life in this game.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • More than an idyllic lakeside hamlet beloved by the international jet set, the northern Italian town of Como and the surrounding area are home to the country’s biggest silk-making districts, part of Italy’s fashion supply chain backbone.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
  • The Gilded Age fortunes that scandalized their contemporaries became, within a generation, the universities, museums and hospitals that form America’s civic backbone.
    Douglas P. McCormick, Fortune, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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