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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
These grants are designed to strengthen organizational infrastructure, buttress long-term planning, and build financial resilience. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 The music recalled the angst and coldness of Carpenter’s movie scores but with more robust arrangements, buttressed by Davies’ guitar. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 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
  • The strap anchors between the first two toes with a smooth leather toe post, holding the foot securely while leaving the sides and back of the foot exposed in a classic mule style.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier Tuesday evening, NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams said the station had lost contact with its crew.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Vasil didn’t know what his teammates were planning and was clearly touched by the display of support.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Schoenmaker will oversee ReturnPro’s international corporate strategy and go-to-market approach, build its commercial organization and support mergers and acquisitions as the company develops its overseas business.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • There is no sign yet of Tzimas returning from an anterior cruciate knee ligament rupture sustained on his first league start against Aston Villa last December.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Captain Aleksander Barkov missed the entire campaign after sustaining a major right knee injury a half hour into his first training camp session.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • The act of retrieving information can help reinforce learning.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Thanks to the support of Canadian agencies, these teams might very well achieve this goal, reinforcing the transatlantic collaborations between European and Canadian animation industries.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • Once inside, curved cherrywood ceilings and tree-like pillars tower over the tables, booths and bar for a cinematic effect.
    — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • High jewelry, which starts at $50,000 for De Beers London, is the third pillar and one that is pulling more than its weight.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pillar
Noun
  • This type of reinforcement can not only disrupt barking at that moment but also decrease unwanted behaviors.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The work demonstrates a way to combine a renewable waste material with nanoscale reinforcement rather than simply substituting one material for another.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of reinforcement
Verb
  • Rutte pledged to increase support for Ukraine and bolster the 32-nation alliance's own defenses along its long eastern border with Russia.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Rutte pledged to increase support for Ukraine and bolster the 32-nation alliance’s own defenses along its long eastern border with Russia.
    — Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of bolster
Noun
  • Ukraine repeatedly has targeted oil facilities that form the backbone of Russia’s economy, one of the world’s largest energy producers.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Building the nuclear backbone One focus will be NANO Nuclear’s HALEU transportation systems.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on buttress

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about buttress

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