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 Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus’ core group of Zach Werenski and Adam Fantilli are pillars to build around, and the Blue Jackets have some good secondary young talent too. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Those two pillars — the Fosse and Harpman — allowed the Levys to open their office in Oakland in 2024. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Naseej identifies policies and regulations as one of five pillars of its work, alongside collection and recycling, awareness and outreach, behavioral research and circular business and innovation. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026 The four pillars Fundraising Strength (30%) captures a firm's ability to consistently attract and grow investor capital over time. — Time Staff, Time, 18 Aug. 2026 Webb later revisited the region in infrared, seeing through more of the dust and revealing stars hidden inside and behind the pillars. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 Americans treat food, housing, and healthcare access as core pillars of health. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 With the two pillars of modernity merging into one, antisemitism, in its modern form, was also anti-bourgeois. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 The living space would be elevated on pillars with parking and storage underneath — a common design along the coast. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 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
  • The announcement has sparked concern among families who view these schools as community anchors.
    — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Capp’s flagship class on the Vietnam War’s impact on American religion and culture became a national sensation, drawing praise from members of Congress, television news anchors, and public intellectuals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of anchors
Noun
  • Some columns from that time showed more nuance or even compassion, including an opinion piece published by The Washington Post in February 2002.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The district also provided only hourly wages for some employees and annual pay for others, hence the two separate pay columns in our database.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of columns
Noun
  • 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
  • Look under rocks for macroinvertebrates (animals without backbones, like stoneflies).
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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