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
Together, the data points buttress worries from some Federal Reserve policymakers that the coast is far from clear for the labor market and may require more policy support — in the form of interest rate reductions — if the current state of play persists. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026 Common traits include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, all of which enabled the structures to be built taller and stronger. Stefanie Waldek, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Veteran starter Lucas Giolito joined the organization last week, buttressing a shallow rotation. Dennis Lin, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 Gukesh’s calm at the board was buttressed by an unusual focus in his training, on psychology, alongside the more traditional tactical and strategic instruction. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
Noun
  • But about 15 people were kept in Atlanta, including Vinnie Politan, the network’s evening anchor since Court TV was revived in 2019 after an 11-year absence.
    Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 20 May 2026
  • The 10th District will feature a rematch between Perry, a retired Army National Guard brigadier general and staunch Trump ally, and Stelson, a former television news anchor who narrowly lost to him in 2024.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • Pratt, Bech Parker said, was the only mayoral hopeful to show support for their effort.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
  • The package includes airport pickup and drop-off, three nights of accommodation, daily yoga and meditation, a one-hour treatment, specialized workshops and pre- and post-retreat support.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • Now, a new study suggests researchers may have found the first drug regimen capable of rapid and sustaining relief from suicidal thoughts across a broad group of patients.
    Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 19 May 2026
  • Officials allege the group sold the oil under false pretenses and used the profits to sustain and expand the original food fraud scheme.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.
    Shianne LeClaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • The device has been deployed in the marine testing area of BiMEP, located off the coast of Bizkaia, reinforcing the role of this infrastructure for testing and research of marine energy technologies in Europe.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • The library is a one-story brick building with two white pillars up front sticking out like tusks, smooth and thin.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • Laneda made Cornerstone Baptist Church another pillar of Jeffries’s upbringing.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • But the videos have also appeared to bolster his popularity online, which Woolley said could force his opponents to take him more seriously.
    Angela Yang, NBC news, 15 May 2026
  • In 2024, the Biden administration set aside $20 billion to bolster port security initiatives over the next five years.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The Vast satellite bus—essentially a backbone providing power, propulsion, and navigation for various payloads—will be based largely on technology ported over from the company’s Haven-1 space station, which is due to launch for the first time next year as the world’s first private space station.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
  • And the power of the internet essentially driving everything and being the backbone of everything.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Bickerstaff occasionally turned to Paul Reed for reinforcements, even benching Duren for Reed for the entirety of the fourth quarter and overtime in Game 5.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • At the learning core, the system uses an Asymmetric Actor-Critic reinforcement learning framework.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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