sustain

verb

sə-ˈstān How to pronounce sustain (audio)
Definition of sustainnext
1
as in to nurture
to supply with nourishment a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch

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2
as in to undergo
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it sustained serious injuries in the car crash

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3
as in to endure
to put up with (something painful or difficult) I won't sustain such insolence!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to carry
to hold up or serve as a foundation for that old chair won't sustain your weight

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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 sustain Since fire needs oxygen to sustain itself, without it, the flames starve. — Salomé Grouard, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026 It's been nearly ten months since Lindsey Vonn sustained brutal injuries in a crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, and the skiing star revealed that her recovery is still very much ongoing. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026 According to a source, Charles sustained an undisclosed injury during the 33-32 win over the Jayhawks. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026 The wider arrangement supported industries sustaining more than 600,000 Canadian jobs. — Rich Percival, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustain
  1. nurture
  2. undergo
  3. endure
  4. carry
  5. satisfy
  6. experience
  7. tolerate
  8. support
Verb
  • Visitors will also learn how these three plants protect and nurture one another when planted together, in honor of National Native American Heritage Month.
    — Kat Tran November 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The reward for those who have worked hard to nurture their brain in seeking a rewarding and fulfilling career and life.
    — Ellis Verdi, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • In 2014 the hotel underwent a three-year renovation under the current owners, Katara Hospitality.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Last month, Leo underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • Into this eclectic circle comes Leland, an Alabama man who wears his particular brand of Christianity on his sleeve and has endured more than his fair share of tragedy.
    — Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The ability to give each food brand a distinctive identity, while maintaining brand integrity, goes back to the company’s culture of caring — and an enduring entrepreneurial spirit.
    — S. Sorrina Beecher, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • The shop also carries beer, seasonal wines and adult-only slushies with a rotating flavor each week like Rosemary’s Baby, a mix of grapefruit vodka, maple syrup infused with rosemary and a little bit of lemon for balance.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The weapon carries a 1,000-pound penetrator and blast-fragmentation warhead designed to destroy large surface vessels.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • An evening spent learning something absorbing can be satisfying simply because the world feels a little less familiar afterward.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • However, public clouds don’t always satisfy the legal, operational and security requirements of a sovereign environment.
    — Karan Alang, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • These connections may experience interference or dropouts independently of the control link, meaning a pilot can sometimes lose the camera feed while retaining control of the aircraft.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Even the heartiest of travelers can experience altitude sickness there and may require supplemental oxygen.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of experience
Verb
  • Voters who are feeling flush may be willing to tolerate a degree of self-dealing from politicians that becomes insupportable when grocery bills are high.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Most of the new towers remain concrete structures, but they’re now typically clad in glass, metal or masonry, and the frame — while expressed — is generally whipped up into a more interesting confection than Mies would have tolerated.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Verb
  • Kurtz also pointed to declines in cities like San Francisco, which is moving to support more sober-living options, housing that bans drugs and alcohol.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 8 Nov. 2026
  • However, until recently the US has selectively supported investigations, for instance into war crimes in Darfur and during the Syrian civil war, and – under President Biden – into Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

suspiring
sustain
sustainable
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Cite this Entry

“Sustain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustain. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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