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
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
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
Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
That very insight further buttresses the need for a grand strategy.
—James B. Steinberg, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
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
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
The document filed by the Justice Department in the Los Angeles Superior Court case led by plaintiffs Todd and Kimberley Ferrier — whose Pacific Palisades home burned down — buttresses arguments made by the victims’ attorneys.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
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
-
Live coverage on Fox News Channel kicks off Wednesday, June 24th and concludes on Sunday, July 5th, with correspondents and anchors stationed at the National Mall, Liberty State Park, Philadelphia, Mount Rushmore and Teddy Roosevelt’s Presidential Library, among others venues.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
Drinking a glass shortly after waking up and another before bed creates simple hydration anchors that can make healthy habits easier to maintain.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Due to the material’s structural limitations, it cannot be used for high-strength or critical load-bearing structures like skyscraper pillars or major bridges.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the sun, and to this day, thousands of people gather to witness the moment the sun peeks perfectly through its pillars.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
With locations in Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Wheeling, and Chicago, Avenues supports individuals with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities and is committed to long-term care, community integration, and disability advocacy.—
Gina Grillo,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
Flat printing followed by folding supports efficient transport and on-site assembly, potentially transforming how large-scale components are manufactured.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Spirit Day reinforces the importance of kindness, while also providing young readers with strategies to be a supportive friend.—
Sarah Kate Ellis,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
This regular practice also reinforces the factory protective coatings that prevent rust and deterioration.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Data centers also need to be close enough to users and network backbones to provide fast digital services.—
Sven Bilén,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
-
Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study.—
Siddhant Pusdekar,
Quanta Magazine,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Usually, prevailing winds push warmer surface water away from the Americas toward Asia and Oceania, but El Niño disrupts this process, leaving warm water close to North and South America’s shores.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
The sandy shores are combed for seaweed and trash nightly, which earned the town a Blue Wave certification.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Pascale’s cello generally swoops and sustains while Katzmann’s saxophone jitters in search.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
-
Integrity sustains football’s ability to inspire trust and respect.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The appearance from Vance only bolsters that case.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
-
The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttresses. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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