buttress 1 of 2

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
In the best-case scenario, lower rates would help buttress rising prices that are expected to come from the levies. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025 Ice shelves like Amery act as buttresses, slowing the flow of glaciers into the sea, and playing a crucial role in stabilizing the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
The involvement of Lakeland PBS, a member station in northern Minnesota, is meant to buttress the lawsuit’s arguments. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 May 2025 Governments should also concern themselves with encouraging the economic arrangements that best enable democratic self-governance and serve to buttress civic life. Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
  • Housed in the 1907 Westland Building, a former steam supply warehouse, the hotel anchors RailSpur, a placemaking initiative that connects three historic structures in Pioneer Square through alleys that draw in the public with the promise of art and cocktails.
    Leilani Marie Labong, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
  • What To Know Trump sat down last week for an interview with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo that aired on Sunday Morning Futures.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Offer tuition support and loan assistance as part of employee benefits to reduce financial barriers to graduate education.
    Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In the letter sent Friday, lawmakers expressed support of efforts to deport violent criminals, but told Trump that raids targeting criminals have resulted in fear among non-criminal migrants.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • But the big question remains: can an affiliate model sustain a platform of this depth?
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Ukraine's General Staff said last week that Russian forces have sustained over 1,010,000 casualties—killed and wounded—since the start of the full-scale invasion.
    Dan Gooding Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The family also played a key role in commemorating the 80th anniversaries of D-Day and V-E Day, further reinforcing its role on both the national and international stage.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Iranian hackers were charged last decade with several attempts to hack into banks and other pillars of the American economy.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 25 June 2025
  • Trump has not addressed whether talks with Iranian officials would also address its missile program and support for terrorist proxies — an important pillar for Israel.
    Laura Kelly, The Hill, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • From there, the Rockets bolstered its wing depth by signing Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year deal to replace Dillon Brooks’ three-and-d production.
    Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • To her, these monochromatic portraits bolster an African aesthetic due to their classic feel that stands the test of time.
    Ugonnaora Owoh, Essence, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Oil wells, refineries, pipelines and shipping lanes are the backbone of energy markets.
    Skip York, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
  • Non-Alcoholic Summer Celebrations Beverages are the backbone of many summer gatherings.
    Sarah Perez, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • All academics in some form or fashion, the group swapped ideas at the intersection of their research: causal machine learning, reinforcement learning, and AI agents.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 18 June 2025
  • Suddenly the team that had too much starting pitching might not have enough — especially with Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, the reinforcements the Mets thought were on the horizon, combining to post an 11.95 ERA in eight rehab starts.
    Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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