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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 Cage solved my next problem by insisting that the way to discover new things is to overcome our dependence on our likes and dislikes, those supposed pillars of criticism. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 Today, the offering is broken down into three pillars in men’s as well as a women’s division, Cater explained. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 Kicillof and others have seized on widespread economic hardship under Milei to rekindle support for the movement's traditional pillars — free education, public health care and workers’ rights. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Bentley claims to have focused on four pillars when masterminding the electric SUV. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 23 Sep. 2026 Compulsory charitable collections, called zakat, are one of the pillars of Islam that function as an obligatory wealth tax on every eligible Muslim whose net worth is over a certain threshold. — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 Sep. 2026 One of the key pillars of an earlier essay to ward off AI harms – from Bill Gates, no less — was an inter-governmental agreement along the lines of international aviation rules or nuclear inspections. — Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026 Adapt To Meet Local Nuances Evergreen brand pillars need to meet local nuances. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The House on Wednesday passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine. — Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 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
  • Berman is one of a growing number of traditional news anchors being assigned to new interactive formats that give viewers and subscribers more say over what gets discussed.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The Boilermakers’ defensive line features five high-impact players that are at least 6-foot-3, and a nose tackle who weighs in at 301 pounds and anchors a defensive front that ranks second in the Big Ten with 17 tackles for loss.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of anchors
Noun
  • Several readers have spoken of appreciation for the columns of mine that intersected sports and society, such as excoriating the NFL for its blackballing of Colin Kaepernick.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The structural system, meanwhile, is based on point supports, which means the building loads are transferred through columns that can be spaced relatively far apart.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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