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
James B. Steinberg, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
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
-
Past colleagues who have stepped in include Saturday Today co-anchors Peter Alexander and Laura Jarrett, as well as Sunday Today host Willie Geist.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Much of the filming in Rhode Island was of iconic sights as establishing shots to anchors the story in Rhode Island.—
Paul Edward Parker,
The Providence Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Contemporary accounts speak to the cruelty and exploitation that were pillars of economies of the time.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The geologic monocline extends almost 100 miles and is surrounded by white sandstone domes, towering monoliths, and otherworldly pillars and arches.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Parents are encouraged to participate in their baby’s care through techniques like kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), which helps stabilize vital signs and supports development.—
MemorialCare Medical Group,
Oc Register,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Beyond still photography, the sensor supports 8K video recording at 30 frames per second.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
City officials say Tuesday's fire underscores the ongoing risks at the site and reinforces their call for broader state-level reform to address enforcement gaps at mobile home parks.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Every photo-op in Washington, every meeting with Israeli officials, every call for international intervention reinforces the regime’s narrative and undermines the legitimacy of the protests.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Discovered in 1981, the tiny backbones — just a few millimeters long — had not received much attention historically.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Driving trucks is one of the unappreciated backbones of modern civilization.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
From February to September, guests may even catch a glimpse of giant leatherback turtles that lay their eggs on the resort’s golden shores.—
Amber Kallor,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Check out Pantelleria Seemingly drifting off towards Tunisia from Sicily’s southwestern shores, Pantelleria is the largest of the minor Sicilian islands and one of its most ravishing.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That is the creative energy that crosses everything together, that sustains and fosters growth and enhances everything in life.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The electorate of this country often embraces the pendulum effect — and that chance of a swing in our political fortunes sustains my optimism for a future of peace and goodwill towards men.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The approval of the waiver bolsters McMahon's mission to reduce the federal government's role in education nationwide.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Taylor’s arrival bolsters the KDFW weather staff after some recent losses.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttresses. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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