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
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 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
-
The couple will join Shelby, along with other WCCO anchors and reporters Bill Carlson, Darcy Pohland and Mark Rosen as Hall of Fame as inductees.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
His legs felt like anchors dragging across the court.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The strikes, which marked the first time in the war Israel has openly attacked civilian industrial infrastructure in Iran, sent fiery pillars and black smoke into the sky and caused oily raindrops to fall onto the city.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
While the iron was replaced with steel and a new deck was added in the 1930s, the limestone pillars are original.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Resting supports your long-term resilience.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Nonfat yogurt still supports steady glucose thanks to its protein content.—
Brittany Poulson,
Verywell Health,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Effectively scaring a bear also reinforces the person as dominant in an encounter, so the bear learns to avoid people.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Our legislation reinforces all three.—
Vaughn Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hundreds of animals with backbones are still being discovered every single year.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
To start the new Mideast war, Donnie acted on his own with no resistance from his sycophants, who have no backbones.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Only around 100 kilometers (60 miles) of water separate Iran and the UAE; missiles and drones do not take long to reach Emirati shores.—
Paula Hancocks,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Its white façade, inspired by the fleets and liners of the 1990s, contrasted with the dense vegetation lining the shores.—
Noelann Bourgade,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ayton sustains knee injury in first quarter Lakers center Deandre Ayton left the game in the first quarter after sustaining a knee injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Read side by side, the books also demonstrate the collective labor that sustains Ukrainian poetry today.—
Alex Averbuch,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Abbas Kiarostami’s work, embracing the way that people who aren’t in the movie business talk and move bolsters the films’ documentary essence.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The new retail arrival bolsters Stonebriar Centre, which is set to bring in others this year.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttresses. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
