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

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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

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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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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
Researchers have been concerned that without their icy buttresses, these walls could collapse. — Megan I. Gannon, Scientific American, 6 May 2026 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
Verb
That message has buttressed DeSantis’ advocacy for drastically slashing property taxes, a critical financial lifeline for Florida cities and counties. — Zoe Millán, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 Kansas City is buttressed by the 6th Congressional District to the north and the 4th Congressional District to the south. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 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
  • What analysts' buyout models say Despite such valuation anchors, analysts are split on how much a financial sponsor might pay for the company and what Global Payments and its long-term shareholders might accept.
    — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • It was not known why the anchor failed, but the heavy snowstorm was not a direct factor, according to the statement, which commended the college students for their love of the outdoors and preparation for the climbing trip.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Industry support When Corral’s exit from Movistar Plus was announced last year, there was an outpouring of anger, grief and concern from Spain’s creative community that is rarely afforded to a commissioning executive.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • As the disease progresses, muscles deteriorate, limiting the ability to hold one’s head upright, sit without support, raise arms or even breathe.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • Four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, Losat said.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The robot’s withdrawal also prompted discussion about the distinction between demonstrating mobility and sustaining it under demanding conditions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • The formula is acidic and built around citric acid, which helps reinforce the bonds color services weaken, and leaves hair smoother and easier to manage.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Cook was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and continued her campaign through treatment, arguing her experience would reinforce her focus on affordable care access.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • Crowley made defending Medicaid funding and preserving affordable housing central pillars of his platform.
    — Maayan Silver, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Beyond reducing cash returns to shareholders, this sharp contraction in buybacks threatens a key pillar supporting tech stock valuations over the long term.
    — , CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of pillar
Noun
  • On Wednesday, nearly a week after the Salvadoran reinforcement began arriving, Haiti’s government finally publicly addressed the deployment.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • After detecting the model’s attempt to access the internet, OpenAI paused frontier reinforcement learning while engineers strengthened the systems containing its agents.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of reinforcement
Verb
  • Research on whether current or future AI systems could develop consciousness may further bolster the nascent AI rights movement.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The governor also urged national lawmakers to pass a federal film and television incentive, which could augment states’ efforts to bolster local production.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of bolster
Noun
  • The language that’s known as the backbone of the internet is now subject to what experts describe as one of the most notable vulnerabilities in recent memory.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Stocchetto’s son Maurizio, the current owner, marked the 50th anniversary with a light refurbishment but one that kept the vintage backbone intact, from the brocades and mirrors to the marble floor and dark wood panels.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of backbone

Browse Nearby Words

button (up)
buttress
buttressed
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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on buttress

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