pillars

noun

plural of pillar
1
as in pilasters
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pillars The 53-year-old is looking to make a statement, paying homage to hip-hop’s roots and pillars with his next project. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026 The three pillars of regenerative agriculture Here’s an easy way to picture it. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Coalition adviser Claude Ibalanky said at a news conference late Monday at Kabila's residence in the eastern city of Goma that the FRN's mission is to restore the pillars of a functioning republic. — Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026 Whereas traditional agencies have gotten increasingly into the creator economy as time has gone on, with film & TV as foundational pillars, Select’s early expertise came in the creator space. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Design pillars include burgeoning design gallery The Future Perfect, which supports independent designers. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Coalition advisor Claude Ibalanky said at a news conference late Monday at Kabila’s residence in the eastern city of Goma that the FRN’s mission is to restore the pillars of a functioning republic. — Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Burnette says cybersecurity is one of six pillars in Kodiak's safety case. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The ground floor features an 18-seat bar with a rum wall backsplash, carved Moai heads and high-tops that spill out to a lush faux-grass courtyard framed in palm trees and tiki-totem pillars. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillars
  1. pilasters
  2. anchors
  3. columns
  4. backbones
Noun
  • The small saints on side pilasters were sold off on the antiques market.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even now, its fins and pilasters adorn plenty of new construction, and in real-estate-speak, the phrase is code for high class.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026
Definition of pilasters
Noun
  • Depending on the route, manufacturers can add protective layers and steel-wire armoring to help the cable withstand demanding conditions, particularly in shallower waters where anchors and fishing equipment pose greater risks.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Rising in hexagonal or octagonal forms amidst low-rise dwellings, these pagodas stand as emotional anchors of hometown memory.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of anchors
Noun
  • Similarly to the Chicago Theatre, the Rapp & Rapp team designed a balcony that spanned the breadth of the auditorium without any columns to block the spectators below, Loerzel and Pierce's book noted.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The towering marble columns in the two-story lobby and the old-fashioned elevators with dials tracking the cars’ locations are but two of the many elements retained from the days when the edifice, built in 1911, was the Union National Bank.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of columns
Noun
  • The structural backbones of the phalanges are 3D-printed from PLA, while soft silicone interfaces provide friction and compliance when the fingers contact a branch.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • More specifically, insects are invertebrates (animals without backbones) and are part of the arthropod phylum, which also includes spiders, crabs, and centipedes.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of backbones

Browse Nearby Words

pillar
pillars
pillbox
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Cite this Entry

“Pillars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillars. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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