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
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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
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
Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The mountains rise up like a curtain wall, crowned by a long buttress of snowfields and ice against the blue sky.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 24 May 2025
Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
Goldberg, co-chair of Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television, buttressed Ellison’s pledge to invest in strong family and YA-friendly movies and TV shows.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buttress
Noun
Turkey is also an important buttress against Russia and has been a diplomatic player on the Ukraine war.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The mountains rise up like a curtain wall, crowned by a long buttress of snowfields and ice against the blue sky.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 24 May 2025
Verb
Murdoch’s media muscle has been increasingly buttressed by his Wall Street Journal revenues as well as those of the doctrinaire Fox News.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
Goldberg, co-chair of Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television, buttressed Ellison’s pledge to invest in strong family and YA-friendly movies and TV shows.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
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The co-anchor recalls getting one important word wrong.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
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Over his long and illustrious career as a CBS news correspondent and anchor, Bob Schieffer won awards and earned acclaim as one of the finest journalists in America.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, a dozen organizations are handing out flyers encouraging protesters to get involved, including Indiana AID, which provides support to immigrants and their families whom have been impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.—
Tony Cook,
IndyStar,
18 Oct. 2025
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How to harvest, preserve and eat them Along with the quinoa and apples, there are plenty of vegetables in this dish and lean protein from the chicken to promote muscle growth and support immune function.—
Bethany Thayer,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The grandfather sustained severe burns after trying to save the two children from the house fire, KTRK-TV and CBS affiliate KHOU reported.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Surely, Engelhardt suggested, the limits of the human body and brain could not sustain such extreme energy, not for long.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Steven Adler published an analysis showing that ChatGPT repeatedly and falsely reinforced one man’s delusions and psychological distress.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
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The universal love is the applause, either heard in person or received from afar, a love reinforced by the sense of an instant, intimate family—a life backstage or in the trailer, far more interesting than the often unhappy family left behind.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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OpenAI unveiled a web browser on Tuesday in a bid to make its ChatGPT AI product the starting point for online access and establish itself as central pillar of the internet economy.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
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Removing the roof required a fair amount of engineering to ensure torsional rigidity, including strengthening the door sills, A-pillars, and adding cross-body braces.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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All of these factors are bolstered by people who contribute to the creation of new businesses and the growth of existing ones.—
Ben Zweig,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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The market said the choice was a reflection of the country’s growing footprint as an international location, bolstered by a 30 percent cash rebate, as well as its bubbling local cinema scene led by the likes of Nabil Ayouch, Faouzi Bensaïdi, Asmae El Moudir, Halima Ouardiri and Maryam Touzani.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Iranian middle class has long been the backbone of the reform movement, and the driver of many of Iran’s protest movements over the decades.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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And this ‘25 squad has not shown the backbone of resolve to inspire any such turnaround, especially after the club’s inner-turmoil was laid bare last week with Tagovailoa’s post-loss remarks about some players missing or tardy for players-only meetings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Especially when the offensive line is a disaster from a pass protection standpoint, and reinforcements aren’t coming anytime soon.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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The trade market seemed like a potential place for reinforcements, but Graham would be a major addition.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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