1
as in anchors
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 pillars
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
as in supports
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
a brace buttressed the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in reinforces
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 buttresses
Adam Williams
april 21, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
James B. Steinberg, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
Noun
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
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
That very insight further buttresses the need for a grand strategy.
—James B. Steinberg, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttresses
Noun
-
Entrepreneurs can look for moments where values meet action and use those as narrative anchors.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In the foyer, a Sol LeWitt wall drawing anchors the entry — less of a decorative accent than statement of intent.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Downriver from the Shoshone Falls are the Pillar Falls, a low waterfall split by rock pillars.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
As their mutual competitiveness grows shockingly ugly, Niall learns to turn Ruben’s Samsonian strength and fury against him, knocking down the pillars of Ruben’s own life.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Take a few minutes to reset, then make one decision that supports both your stability and your peace moving forward.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The brand’s proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku supports stronger, healthier hair right at the root, while soothing botanicals like rosemary, green tea, and rice extract keep irritation in check.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Moon centers on your 2nd House of Value, where consistency reinforces results.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bringing greenery overhead reinforces the feeling of enclosure.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As songwriters, the Ottavianos usually only needed a metaphor, a single beautiful image, or a fun double entendre to serve as narrative backbones.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
26 Apr. 2026
-
There's also a perception that squishy invertebrates — creatures without backbones — weren't formidable enough to join the ranks of top predators.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Dalmore is a Highland distillery founded by Sir Alexander Matheson in 1839 on the scenic shores of the Cromarty Firth.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For years, local conservationists, including the Lake County Audubon Society, have been making a concerted push to bolster the once abundant but now endangered piping plover population across the Great Lakes shores and North Atlantic coast.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Nancy Kuhajda will provide practice insights about how to identify pollinators, and Nana Koziol, a Chicago Botanic Garden instructor, will demonstrate how to create a garden that attracts and sustains pollinators.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This is bad news for the river that sustains mainland Southeast Asia.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The soldiers are members of the 10th Infantry Battalion Guard Security Corps National Reserve on a weekend exercise to hone their skills as the Netherlands bolsters its military with new recruits and volunteers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The company claims that the latest announcement bolsters Australia’s industrial capacity, to design, build and sustain key defence assets, while ensuring a robust supply chain.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttresses. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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