as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support
Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis
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Recent Examples of mainstays
Yes, incoming transfers such as Morris and Taylor have eased the line’s burdens, but much of the credit belongs to program mainstays such as senior left tackle McKale Boley.
—
David Teel, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Training camp and preseason basketball will begin to test the seamlessness of his fit in the starting lineup alongside the Nuggets’ mainstays.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
One of the mainstays of video game publishing since its founding in the 1980s, EA remains a force but the landscape has dramatically changed.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Jerry Stiller and Meara as a comedy duo were mainstays on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as their impact on American popular culture grew.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Its two-page cocktail menu changes seasonally with the exception of a few mainstays.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Regardless of season, these reliable mainstays can be worn year-round and should always be included in your capsule wardrobe.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
With five cast members exiting before season 51 (including mainstays Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner) and five cast members added as featured players, this season of the show promises change.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Fresh ideas from rising talents like Patricio Campillo and Henry Zankov felt invigorating, while mainstays Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch all pushed their signatures forward.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025
David Teel, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Training camp and preseason basketball will begin to test the seamlessness of his fit in the starting lineup alongside the Nuggets’ mainstays.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
One of the mainstays of video game publishing since its founding in the 1980s, EA remains a force but the landscape has dramatically changed.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Jerry Stiller and Meara as a comedy duo were mainstays on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as their impact on American popular culture grew.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Its two-page cocktail menu changes seasonally with the exception of a few mainstays.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Regardless of season, these reliable mainstays can be worn year-round and should always be included in your capsule wardrobe.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
With five cast members exiting before season 51 (including mainstays Ego Nwodim and Heidi Gardner) and five cast members added as featured players, this season of the show promises change.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Fresh ideas from rising talents like Patricio Campillo and Henry Zankov felt invigorating, while mainstays Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch all pushed their signatures forward.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainstays
Noun
-
Antoni, a former Heritage Foundation economist, had come under fire for his history of social media posts that used economic stats for partisan purposes, sexist remarks, and insults targeting gay TV anchors.—
Ruth Umoh,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Lu’s journal-like songwriting anchors the mythical, otherworldly atmosphere depicted on the album cover and Wisp’s viral music videos.—
John Lonsdale,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The oversized blazer Boxy suit jackets have become fashion-industry standbys.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
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Where The Nun suffered from a complete and utter lack of tension, director Michael Chaves uses some classic horror standbys to build suspense.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Authorities said the building’s foundation pillars gave way while construction workers were laying down concrete.—
Britt Clennett,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
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Strategic pillars are scholarships and student investment; programmatic innovation and resources; talent discovery and development; research and advocacy; and institutional capacity building.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mainstays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainstays. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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