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
1
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
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Recent Examples of buttress
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
Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Barragán brings a surprising depth and empathy to The Yahoo Boys, to the tin roofs and traffic jams of Lagos, the SIM cards and Apple IDs that buttress this edifice of deceit.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
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
Barragán brings a surprising depth and empathy to The Yahoo Boys, to the tin roofs and traffic jams of Lagos, the SIM cards and Apple IDs that buttress this edifice of deceit.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
-
Nine people, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, were initially arrested with 30 more later indicted on federal charges in connection with the incident.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Longtime on-air anchor Glen Walker is making his way back to broadcast news in Los Angeles.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
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The case drew national attention and brought out dozens of people to the courthouse daily during the trial to protest in support of, and against, Karmelo Anthony.—
Shawna Mizelle,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
El Tri will have an edge competing at high altitude and with the support of home fans, but Mexico is winless in World Cup openers.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Harris said the officer sustained serious injuries but had since recovered.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The political leadership of both of our major parties must step up to sustain the research enterprise in our public and private universities.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Roberts defended Hernandez's abilities in right field, and reinforced his role for the Dodgers.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
-
But there’s a lesson the Jayhawks should’ve learned without him, a lesson only reinforced in their first game with him in a month.—
Sam McDowell
Updated December 7,
Kansas City Star,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The lifecycle pillar then operationalizes governance through requirements covering model selection, data quality, explainability, performance monitoring, human oversight, cybersecurity, and third-party risk.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the sun, and to this day, thousands of people gather to witness the moment the sun peeks perfectly through its pillars.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Feldmann’s boat, and finally this flimsy kayak, deliver us to the rocky shore of Greenland and the musk oxen that don’t care about our long, circuitous approach.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Dec. 2025
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Tony and Kathy Evers have lived in the Executive Residence for nearly seven years, but to an extent, the governor's mansion on the shores of Lake Mendota doesn't really feel like their home.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Kravitz attended the ceremony, which honors the best games of the year, to bolster the news.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
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Healthy habits, like those in the centenarian survey, can bolster longevity by reducing the forces that age us, such as chronic inflammation, blood vessel damage, mitochondrial decline, muscle loss, and stress, Weiss said.—
Kristen Fischer,
Health,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Reading people’s intentions and forming relationships is still the backbone of successful recruiting.—
Steven Johnson
June 16,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
Congress is starting to get a little bit of a backbone and put some funding back into getting good, solid, basic science going.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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