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 And backlash will likely be sustained as more people wear the glasses, since digital rights experts have accused Meta of failing to consider civil rights or privacy ramifications when designing new features. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026 Kurtis Rourke did not play after sustaining fractured ribs in last Thursday’s start. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 Beijing’s enforcement, although real, is selective and partial because elements of the illicit economy serve the country’s larger strategic goals, such as sustaining trade with Russia while maintaining distance from the war in Ukraine. — Alvin Camba, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2026 This collectively explains why educators have met with the chancellor and explicitly called to keep, improve, sustain, and grow the initiative. — Evan Stone, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 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
  • Jaissle desires an on-field lieutenant in midfield who can provide a calm head and help guide and nurture the younger players around him.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Alongside his brother Éric, Nicolas was a leading figure in French cinema — and the broader audiovisual industry — a passionate producer who discovered and nurtured some of our greatest talents, and a loyal partner of @canalplus.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • The prototype will undergo primary assembly and integration at Xos’s Byrdstown, Tennessee, facility.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Schanuel tweaked his side on Thursday night, and Meckler was still undergoing concussion tests after he was hit in the head by a pitch.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • Cedars-Sinai apologized for any inconvenience Marina del Rey residents endured after the hospital's construction project caused a putrid odor to spread through the coastal neighborhood.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Iran still strikes at tankers, and expects some form of control over the strait to endure even after a diplomatic settlement.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • Prime Air is currently testing a new drone delivery mechanism that could enable it to carry a wider assortment of products, like fragile cartons of eggs or other perishables, Carbon said.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The project now moves into a phase where engineering, construction and workforce development will carry as much importance as diplomacy.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Spurred by tech giants’ insatiable appetite for computing power to dominate frontier models, the unprecedented global expansion of AI infrastructure has created demand so enormous that no single country can satisfy it.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The bottom line Creditors may ultimately be paid from the value of a deceased person's home in certain circumstances, and an estate may need to sell the property if there aren't enough other assets to satisfy valid claims.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • Teens with a higher rate of screen time use outside of school work are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, among other negative effects, according to the CDC.
    — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026
  • How trauma affects the brain According to the World Health Organization, approximately 70 percent of people worldwide report experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime.
    — Michele Patterson Ford, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of experience
Verb
  • Although the supplements are generally well tolerated, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to ferns, or are taking other medications—particularly immune-modulating ones—may not be good candidates, Nazarian said.
    — Kristen Fischer, HEALTH, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Those with sensitive skin should proceed with caution when using the two ingredients together, as the combination may be too much for their skin to tolerate.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Allure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Verb
  • That ability is probably there for just about every retailer, even the tiniest ones, according to Linda Toth, executive director of Conexxus, an industry technology group that supports convenience stores and gas stations.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The distinctive frame already resembles the aircraft that will eventually soar through Titan’s dense orange skies, complete with landing skids, support arms for its eight rotors and the housing for its nuclear power system.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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 24 Aug. 2026.

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