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
The oversized blazer Boxy suit jackets have become fashion-industry standbys.
—
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Where The Nun suffered from a complete and utter lack of tension, director Michael Chaves uses some classic horror standbys to build suspense.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Almost always, leadership was divided, with some wanting to move away from old standbys while others argued not to rock the boat.
—Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Where The Nun suffered from a complete and utter lack of tension, director Michael Chaves uses some classic horror standbys to build suspense.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Almost always, leadership was divided, with some wanting to move away from old standbys while others argued not to rock the boat.
—Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standbys
Noun
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Sonar revealed ancient relics along the sea floor, including a series of colossal structures standing 20 feet high and arranged in rows, as well as several anchors and amphora.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
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Stability is ensured because although these chromosomes carry two centromeres—the anchors used in cell division—only one is active, preventing errors.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Its two-page cocktail menu changes seasonally with the exception of a few mainstays.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
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Regardless of season, these reliable mainstays can be worn year-round and should always be included in your capsule wardrobe.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Glamour,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Platform product management is rarely treated as a strategic, first-class discipline, resulting in fragmented backbones that fail to support enterprise-wide innovation.—
Gaurav Dixit,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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By trading in metal backbones for a soft familiar-feeling vest, the wearable robot offers a more cost-effective and approachable solution for the millions of individuals worldwide who could possibly benefit from moderate limb support.—
Mack DeGeurin Aug 21,
Popular Science,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Every venue on this tour is an historic jewel from some two to five hundred years ago, and the Paradiso is adorned with ornate crown molding, white pillars, and arched balconies.—
Jonathan Terrell,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
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Each fan is held up by steel beams that are connected to concrete pillars on the ground.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standbys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standbys. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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