SUSTAIN Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

sustain

verb

sə-ˈstān

Definition of sustain

as in to nurture

to supply with nourishment a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to undergo

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to endure

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to carry

to hold up or serve as a foundation for that old chair won't sustain your weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The latter was important to Kaphar, who wanted to provide the sort of practical education about sustaining a career that art schools often neglect. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The tête-a-tête between Jack and Nora gets tedious pretty quickly, while as counterparts, Dani, Chad and Bianca are just not smart, sympathetic or interesting enough to sustain our interest in this labyrinthine plot. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 The Kia driver sustained minor injuries on his hands, while two girls from the volleyball team were taken to Norton Children’s Hospital for evaluation of non-life threatening injuries. — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Aug. 2026 Officers entered the home and quickly found Wang, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustain

Verb

Establishing and nurturing a robust professional relationship map—comprising sponsors, mentors, allies and followers—enhances professional impact and reputation, both critical to accessing new opportunities.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Children’s imaginations and intellect should be nurtured rather than broken.

— Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of nurture

Verb

That oil can then undergo further processing and hydrotreatment to produce SAF.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Thompson served as a guest judge that season while Cowell, who underwent a six-hour surgery that included the placement of a metal rod in his back, recovered.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

While a cause of death has not yet been reported, the actor endured serious health issues in the years after experiencing a major stroke in 2012.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026
The footage shows contestants happily enduring all sorts of mayhem, while being guided by the voice of the late actor Gene Wilder, who famously played Willy Wonka in the 1971 movie.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of endure

Verb

Developers must also satisfy nuclear cybersecurity rules, Department of War authorization requirements and protections for operational technology and industrial control systems.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
The kind of dessert that satisfies your craving, but doesn’t taste too sickly sweet.

— George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of satisfy

Verb

That means tolerating the discomfort of not getting an immediate response, and directing all that nervous energy somewhere else.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
The company says one potential application is a temperature logger used during the sterilization of retort food, where equipment needs to tolerate high temperatures while limiting moisture ingress.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of tolerate

Verb

Our team of Victim Advocates are supporting those involved in what happened today.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Easley said a community gathering organized in support of the brewery on Saturday drew a large crowd, with some of the drag brunch’s vendors and a food truck showing up to support the brewery.

— Evan Moore August 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

suspiring

sustain

sustainable

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Style

“Sustain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustain. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sustain

verb

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