buttressing

verb

present participle of buttress
1
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for a brace buttressed the wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in reinforcing
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 buttressing The upstream glaciers, now without their buttressing support, flow faster toward the sea. — Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025 The competition with China will hinge not on mimicking Beijing’s methods but on buttressing the core strengths of the United States. — Lael Brainard, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025 Traffic among higher-income shoppers has grown, Kempczinski added, buttressing the company’s revenue. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025 Any good Marxist can tell you that the ruling class of any nation will frequently make social concessions as a way of buttressing its brute political power with moral credibility. — Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025 Any good Marxist can tell you that the ruling class of any nation will frequently make social concessions as a way of buttressing its brute political power with moral credibility. — Book Marks august 7, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025 Veteran starter Lucas Giolito joined the organization last week, buttressing a shallow rotation. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttressing
  1. sustaining
  2. reinforcing
  3. supporting
  4. bolstering
  5. carrying
  6. upholding
Verb
  • Woman died at hospital after sustaining severe injuries Three people were transported to local hospitals with severe injuries, according to police.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Commercializing fusion research NIFS’ achievements in fusion research range from sustaining plasma for 3,268 seconds to reaching temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of sustaining
Verb
  • Doctors in other parts of Venezuela and abroad have stepped up to volunteer for telehealth services, while other aid groups have focused on reinforcing primary care providers and mobile clinics.
    — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 8 July 2026
  • Yet rather than reinforcing Gatorade’s performance credentials, the sponsorship has positioned the brand at the centre of debates around commercialization.
    — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of reinforcing
Verb
  • The move is contentious, with environmentalists supporting the removal, while tribes and horse lovers are heartbroken.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Faulty columns supporting too much weight were to blame for the building’s structural damage, said Berman.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Definition of supporting
Verb
  • These acquisitions are crucial for bolstering the Yankees' rotation.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Their coupling instantly captured the attention and hearts of fans around the world, and Swift’s presence at Chiefs games was even credited with bolstering female interest in NFL football.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of bolstering
Verb
  • Now, mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been found in 10 cities, with the latest being Fullerton and Anaheim.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The new frontier is cumulative stress, a running tally of how much strain your body is carrying from work, poor sleep, illness, travel, emotional load and exercise combined.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of carrying
Verb
  • Last year, the Supreme Court struck its first blow against transgender rights by upholding a Tennessee law banning transgender care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The opinions, which neither justice is expected to discuss in their testimony, included a ruling upholding the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, which Trump sought to undercut with an executive order.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of upholding

Browse Nearby Words

buttresses
buttressing
butts
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Cite this Entry

“Buttressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttressing. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on buttressing

Nglish: Translation of buttressing for Spanish Speakers

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