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
Two days after Adebayo offered those words, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem, a pair of franchise mainstays who now are working as analysts for NBA coverage on Amazon Prime, called out Adebayo’s calling out of his team.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The station proved pivotal in creating an enthusiastic audience here for such acts as Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra, Kenny G, Earl Klugh, Acoustic Alchemy and other aural confectioners who subsequently became mainstays at Humphreys.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Sure, there are plenty of rumors and speculations about her scents du jour, but these are the top three that are confirmed mainstays in her rotation.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Mar. 2026
Starting the game with Housewives mainstays Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett as his fellow Traitors — Donna Kelce was later revealed to be a secret Traitor, who was also voted out — Rausch flew under the radar in a way his fellow Traitors didn’t.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
The line also includes a scalp exfoliating shampoo and scalp serum, which are both mainstays in my monthly hair routine.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
Breakfast is also served in Patatino with mainstays like Eggs Royal offset by more unusual serves that include an addictive plate of flatbread with honey, ricotta, and grapes, and a feather-light stack of orange-scented pancakes liberally doused in a shiny chocolate sauce.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
When hunger calls, grab a bite (or a cocktail) at local mainstays like The Iron Whale, Maruca’s Tomato Pies, and Stella Marina.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Those two mainstays from the West Finals are part of the reason why Minnesota has a good case to make another deep playoff run, along with Plano native Julius Randle and backup big man Naz Reid.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
The station proved pivotal in creating an enthusiastic audience here for such acts as Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra, Kenny G, Earl Klugh, Acoustic Alchemy and other aural confectioners who subsequently became mainstays at Humphreys.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Sure, there are plenty of rumors and speculations about her scents du jour, but these are the top three that are confirmed mainstays in her rotation.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 Mar. 2026
Starting the game with Housewives mainstays Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett as his fellow Traitors — Donna Kelce was later revealed to be a secret Traitor, who was also voted out — Rausch flew under the radar in a way his fellow Traitors didn’t.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
The line also includes a scalp exfoliating shampoo and scalp serum, which are both mainstays in my monthly hair routine.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
Breakfast is also served in Patatino with mainstays like Eggs Royal offset by more unusual serves that include an addictive plate of flatbread with honey, ricotta, and grapes, and a feather-light stack of orange-scented pancakes liberally doused in a shiny chocolate sauce.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
When hunger calls, grab a bite (or a cocktail) at local mainstays like The Iron Whale, Maruca’s Tomato Pies, and Stella Marina.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Those two mainstays from the West Finals are part of the reason why Minnesota has a good case to make another deep playoff run, along with Plano native Julius Randle and backup big man Naz Reid.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainstays
Noun
-
This year, the league installed brand-new bases and anchors on both field complexes.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Downtown is home to cultural anchors like Pérez Art Museum Miami and the lush Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, while Brickell supplies rooftop cocktails and high-end dining with skyline views.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Many are Latin American or African immigrants working in the agricultural, tourism or service sectors, backbones of Spain’s booming economy.—
Renata Brito,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Roadside spots serve up standbys like barbecue and the national dish of fish and fungi.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This striking crimson suit is one of the princess’s standbys for significant events.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
16 Jan. 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
Cite this Entry
“Mainstays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainstays. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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