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
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
  • Soaring double-height ceilings anchor the entertaining spaces, with loft areas overlooking the living room.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
  • Dozens of VLCCs are sailing from the South China Sea and across the Indian Ocean toward the United Arab Emirates ports, where at least 30 ships were already at anchor, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward on Wednesday.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • The aircraft, a long-haul B-52 Stratofortress, crashed after taking off on a test mission in support of a radar modernization program, the military base previously said.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • And Operations Manager David Temple adds that guests find support, security, and stability.
    Sharon Chin, CBS News, 18 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
  • The project also reinforces San Diego’s growing status as a center for fusion research and development.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
  • Activating them during exposure work may reinforce the therapeutic learning happening in the room, helping patients form new emotional associations with traumatic memories rather than experiencing them as immediate threats.
    Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
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
  • According to xAI, OpenAI sought information about the development of Grok 4, arguing that OpenAI’s forthcoming ChatGPT updates were struggling to compete with Grok’s capabilities in advanced reasoning and reinforcement learning techniques.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
  • After retargeting, the robot is trained in a simulation environment using reinforcement learning.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Countries affected by the disruption are expected to bolster energy stockpiles, direct resources to ramp up domestic production, and pursue alternative supply routes to reduce dependence on a single chokepoint.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 June 2026
  • Such lifting of sanctions all but guarantees that the Iranian regime will be bolstered mere months after protests brought it to the brink of collapse.
    Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
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
  • How did 42 Dugg-core Detroit drums end up as the backbone of Florida street rap?
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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