buttress 1 of 2

noun

ˈbə-trəs How to pronounce buttress (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress

Synonyms & Similar Words

buttress

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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 buttress
Noun
In a modern twist on this concept, Volvo is now megacasting aluminum alloy buttress-like structures in the new EX60’s diecast rear floor. — Kristin Shaw, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026 Researchers have been concerned that without their icy buttresses, these walls could collapse. — Megan I. Gannon, Scientific American, 6 May 2026
Verb
Howard said that since the fraud allegations surfaced in the fall, many victims have been pressed by the county’s lawyers to buttress their claims of abuse. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 This steady supply of new projects will buttress a local ecosystem that has increasingly lost business to competing production hubs. — Alexander Ciccone, Oc Register, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
  1. anchor
  2. support
  3. sustain
  4. reinforce
  5. pillar
  6. reinforcement
  7. bolster
  8. backbone
Noun
  • The disruption extended far beyond the classroom, leaving communities to absorb the loss of institutions that had long served as neighborhood anchors.
    — Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Defensive tackles Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino return as anchors inside, while the Hoosiers also added Kansas State edge transfer Tobi Osunsanmi from the transfer portal.
    — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Not everyone has enough resources and support to turn to in real life, the 22-year-old said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • Chinese officials condemn American legal hegemony while closely studying the institutions and techniques that sustain it.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The complaint alleges that the injuries sustained by Duluc were directly due to negligence regarding the height of the netting.
    — Madison Lambert, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • Football introduces more students and families to the university and reinforces that a local, affordable higher education option with Division I athletics exists right on the South Side.
    — Monique Carroll, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years, Vizard has watched visitors come to the farm to admire the birds, reinforcing her belief that the farm should continue to be used as an open space.
    — Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • Attacking Sabalenka’s serve was the main pillar of Alexandrova’s strategy.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The living space would be elevated on pillars with parking and storage underneath — a common design along the coast.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillar
Noun
  • Left-back could also do with reinforcements, with a thin pool of options available to cover for Luke Shaw, whose fitness record has been patchy during his 12-year career in Manchester.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Red Sox had one of their biggest trade deadlines in franchise history last Monday, bringing aboard loads of big league reinforcements led by three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforcement
Verb
  • The Cubs bolstered their pitching staff with a series of moves ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, acquiring Clay Holmes from the New York Mets and reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels.
    — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Padres thus bolstered their rotation by acquiring left-hander Robbie Ray from the Giants and, reportedly, right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolster
Noun
  • While federal policy typically focuses on new construction or subsidized housing, NOAH owners are the backbone of our affordable housing ecosystem, accounting for 75% of affordable homes nationwide.
    — Maggie Cassidy, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Like building a giant erector set, Meir and Menon worked to assemble and bolt together the triangular brackets on the 3B power channel, located on the far right, or starboard (S6) segment of the station's backbone truss.
    — Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of backbone

Browse Nearby Words

button (up)
buttress
buttressed
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on buttress

Nglish: Translation of buttress for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about buttress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All