standbys

noun

plural of standby
as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support our old standby in times of trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 standbys Colors like the perfectly balanced red Ruby Woo, deep beige Velvet Teddy and bright orchid Heroine are beauty-industry standbys, and the brand offers more than 150 lipstick shades in total. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Sports from the traditional standbys (artistic gymnastics) to the newest additions (flag football, lacrosse and squash) all sold through their first-drop availability. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Old standbys have been reborn, too. — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 While the appetite for $500-per-person omakase may be cooling slightly, Indian and Levantine spots are as in-demand as the city’s classic steakhouses and French and Italian standbys. — Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 At last month’s Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim — one of the world’s largest food trade shows — old standbys finding fresh roles and unexpected places to shine was the buzz. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standbys
  1. anchors
  2. mainstays
  3. backbones
  4. pillars
Noun
  • The new service aims to create new opportunities for subscribers to interact with MS NOW’s roster of reporters anchors and contributors.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • An oversize half-moon couch anchors the living room, where a chic bar with see-through shelving separates the space from the formal dining room.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of anchors
Noun
  • Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens’ entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In years past, mainstays like Trent McDuffie or Bryan Cook might have been around to help teach on the fly.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mainstays
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
Noun
  • 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
  • There’s a symmetry despite all four stands having a different design, ranging from the concrete pillars of the Bramall Lane end to the much smoother lines seen along the John Street Stand.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillars

Browse Nearby Words

standby
standbys
stand for
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Cite this Entry

“Standbys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standbys. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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