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
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 Patriotic histories, after all, had long been used to buttress the oppressive systems that these scholars now sought to unmask. — Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 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
  • Celebrity Chef Eric Adjepong, a festival anchor, was particularly impressed by the diverse mango varieties, noting their versatility beyond sweetness for both savory and sweet dishes.
    — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Longtime SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, injury expert Stephania Bell, talk show host Bart Scott and NFL Network analyst Charles Davis were also laid off as well, according to Front Office Sports.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Faucette attributes her sleep triumph to family support and a new parental benefit offered by the city of Atlanta.
    — Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • Allen, who has been tracking the conflict, told CNN that drones are now used to monitor enemy movements, support ground operations, strike supply lines and attack infrastructure.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • Hudson was shot in the exchange with deputies but was wearing body armor and sustained minor wounds, said prosecutors.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
  • McDonald sustained the right elbow sprain during his outing on Monday against the Kansas City Royals.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 July 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • Audemard’s Caracas apartment building was constructed into bedrock, reinforcing it.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Producing the film has reinforced her belief that festivals should serve as more than exhibition platforms.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 24 July 2026
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • To get there, their strategy called Quantum 2030 is built around five pillars.
    — Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The Ukrainian attacks on the sprawling Russian warehouses produced stark images, with massive pillars of black smoke rising above fires that raged at facilities of Wildberries, the country’s biggest online retailer and its equivalent of Amazon.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Fortune, 24 July 2026
Definition of pillar
Noun
  • Any potential reinforcements off the IL for the pitching staff won’t affect what the Cubs do at the trade deadline, Hoyer said.
    — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • The defense needs reinforcements Orlando has conceded 44 goals in 15 league matches.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
Definition of reinforcement
Verb
  • Paramount contends that the transaction would bolster competition in streaming, as the combination of Paramount and Warner Bros would stand a better chance against stronger rivals like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon’s Prime Video.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 July 2026
  • Nuclear power is key to bolstering energy security in Africa, but its rollout on the continent requires workforce training and safety regulations, according to a leading industry expert.
    — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of bolster
Noun
  • The method became the backbone of modern geophysical prospecting, and supercharged the growth of a burgeoning oil and gas exploration industry worldwide.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 July 2026
  • Firms conducting focus groups were the backbone of consumer insights.
    — Anna Convery, Forbes.com, 23 July 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 26 Jul. 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
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
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All