as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support
our old standby in times of trouble
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standbys
Spring’s touring theater productions are a mix of old standbys and new shows.
—
Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
Prep school standbys were seen across the runways for spring 2026, and are now trickling into transitional outerwear looks, with the help of a major wardrobe hero piece.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026
Readers chose plenty of old standbys, but a few impressive upstarts are also on the hot list.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
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
To make the look seasonally apropos, put thought into color, pattern, and material; designs that incorporate warm-weather standbys like pastels, florals, and chiffon are always good ideas.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
The old standbys are still there.
—Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Old standbys and new treatments Topical minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is a foam available over-the-counter that lengthens the growth phase of the hair cycle, keeping more hair on the head at any one time.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
Prep school standbys were seen across the runways for spring 2026, and are now trickling into transitional outerwear looks, with the help of a major wardrobe hero piece.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2026
Readers chose plenty of old standbys, but a few impressive upstarts are also on the hot list.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
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
To make the look seasonally apropos, put thought into color, pattern, and material; designs that incorporate warm-weather standbys like pastels, florals, and chiffon are always good ideas.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2026
The old standbys are still there.
—Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
Old standbys and new treatments Topical minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is a foam available over-the-counter that lengthens the growth phase of the hair cycle, keeping more hair on the head at any one time.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standbys
Noun
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An infinity pool anchors the home, overlooking the canopy and coastline, with an outdoor shower for a quick rinse after a dip in one of Tamarindo’s many stunning beaches.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2026
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Some of the latest incidents of accidental or suspected sabotage damage to undersea cables have even simply involved ships dragging their anchors across the seafloor.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The five remaining mainstays from the Celtics’ 2023-24 title-winning roster — Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard and Hauser — form the spine of this year’s squad.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Regional mainstays such as The Third Line, Lawrie Shabibi, Carbon 12, Ayyam Gallery, and Tabari Artspace will be joined by international galleries including Perrotin, Galleria Continua, Waddington Custot, and Galerie Frank Elbaz.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hundreds of animals with backbones are still being discovered every single year.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The two pillars of private markets have become deeply intertwined over the past decade, with direct lenders stepping in as a key financing engine for buyouts after banks retreated following the global financial crisis, according to industry veterans.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Along with North, last year’s inaugural class included Kansas City arts pillars such as visual artist Harold Smith, drum and dance instructor Danny Hinds and singer Darcus Speed Gates, reflecting the range of disciplines the awards aim to recognize.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standbys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standbys. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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