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
-
Snook is excellent at playing tremulous and overwhelming feeling without ever seeming hammy or phony, and Marissa’s raw emotion anchors All Her Fault in something real even as the plot reveals grow increasingly (and enjoyably) outrageous.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Both business and government should serve as these anchors for economic security.—
Shilpan Amin,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
My first apartment on 15th and Union Square was a studio in a classy old building with marble pillars, one small room with a bigger bathroom and strangely an even bigger closet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The lobby's grand pillars and coffered ceilings exude Old World elegance, while the plush furniture and stone fireplace create a cozy living room feel.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
It’s made from 100 percent cashmere certified by The Good Cashmere Standard organization, which supports responsible production in Mongolia.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Attest data supports concerns around mental health, with a quarter of parents admitting their child struggles often.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The document reinforces that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is not a tariff statute—nor did Congress intend of provide for it to be leveraged as such.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The transformation reinforces our position as a pioneer in the region’s retail and leisure landscape.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Driving trucks is one of the unappreciated backbones of modern civilization.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Platform product management is rarely treated as a strategic, first-class discipline, resulting in fragmented backbones that fail to support enterprise-wide innovation.—
Gaurav Dixit,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Perched on the European shores of the Bosphorus, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is the only Ottoman imperial palace transformed into a luxury hotel.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the shores of Lake Michigan features miles of sand beach, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna, towering bluffs, an island lighthouse, coastal villages, picturesque farmsteads and more.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cultural storytelling builds awareness; engagement sustains relevance, and strategic digital integration turns influence into sales.—
Li Jun,
Footwear News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
But what sustains this spirit is the tangible, down-to-earth life on the ground.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Novartis bolsters treatments for rare muscle disorders With this acquisition, Novartis is expanding into areas with limited treatment options, while strengthening its presence in the rare disease landscape.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Their recent trend of going 5-1 against the spread after a win further bolsters their position.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttresses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttresses. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share