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 In 2022, for example, a team of researchers in Paris reported that sustained mental effort led to the accumulation of glutamate in the lateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region responsible for cognitive control. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026 Tanquilut cautioned that some of CVS's recent retail pharmacy gains have come as Walgreens and other competitors have closed stores, raising questions about whether the growth can be sustained. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026 The committee also credited the Broncos with playing Oregon close in the season opener before Ducks quarterback Dante Moore sustained a season-ending concussion later in the year. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2026 The research agency, ORF Middle East, said that support for tourism businesses and efforts to restart events could become harder to sustain if the conflict drags on. — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 4 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
  • The legendary British art collector has spent half a century acquiring paintings, sculpture, and furniture, along with nurturing contemporary creatives as a formidable patron.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Innovation is nurtured from top to bottom by giving it the same importance as day-to-day operations.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • After the game, the North Crowley football players created an uplifting moment for Errecka Holloway, who is set to undergo breast cancer treatment for the second time.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Since February, Maya has undergone five surgeries, including receiving a prosthetic skull, Gebala said in the post, which listed challenging and hopeful milestones over the past 262 days.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • But up to this point, DIIV have endured—thrived, even—because of their refusal to capitulate to the industry winds that swirled around them.
    — Larry Fitzmaurice, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The character introduced as youthful comic relief became an enduring piece of the series’ optimistic picture of the future.
    — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • The track’s watery percussion and acute synth stabs carry all the implication of a dancefloor, even without a beat.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Ossoff, 39, began the cycle as a top Republican target and the only Senate Democrat running for reelection in a state Trump carried in 2024.
    — Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Hays' efforts to find a solution to the controversy satisfied neither civil right activists nor intransigent segregationists.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Many possible configurations of the ISM could satisfy the same data, said Gregory Green, an astronomer at Westlake University in Hangzhou, China.
    — Perri Thaler, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • Local leaders say the counties’ different histories, growth patterns and economic conditions help explain why residents may experience the region differently.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As part of the diamond’s journey, members of the Udell family have traveled to Botswana to witness the cutting process firsthand, experience the history of the diamond’s origins and see the craftsmanship behind turning the stone into a rare diamond.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 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
  • More than 120 countries supported the resolution — only three voted against it — Argentina, Israel and the United States.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The organizers included activist Amy Sousa and commentator Brandi Kruse, who previously helped organize rallies supporting WNBA player Sophie Cunningham.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2026.

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