Synonyms of mainstays

mainstays

noun

plural of mainstay

as in anchors

something or someone to which one looks for support

Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anchors
• backbones
• standbys
• pillars
• crutches
• buttresses
• spines
• sinews
• reliances
• dependences
• refuges
• props
• stays
• right hands
• handmaidens
• anchorages
• bolsterers
• harbors

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mainstays

While a few mainstays are still around like Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, with Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart, this latest announcement sees a continuation of a freshening up of its coverage. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens’ entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

In years past, mainstays like Trent McDuffie or Bryan Cook might have been around to help teach on the fly. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026

But kebabs are joined by a variety of stews, salads and eggplant dishes that are mainstays of Persian cooking. — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026

For players who are or have the potential to be mainstays — think first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers and middle infield combination Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards — the Marlins would need to be blown away with the offer. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

The mainly American mainstays monopolize the market, while denim production has tight margins and is resource-intensive. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 28 July 2026

Two Atlanta sports radio mainstays will stick around longer and a longtime station will switch formats this month in local radio news. — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 28 July 2026

One of the mainstays of the local economy is also artisanal gold mining — which attracts informal workers who are highly mobile, and therefore likely to spread Ebola quickly if infected. — Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 23 July 2026