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 An incarcerated man died from injuries sustained in an assault that happened in a Boise-area prison this week, according to a statement shared on social media by the Idaho Department of Correction. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026 The broken rib indicates that Scotty likely succumbed to injuries sustained during a dinosaur brawl. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 The company is responsible for importing special equipment and spare parts needed to sustain Cuba’s crumbling power grid. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 It's been a tough go for both squads in sustaining drives and cashing in with points. — AJC.com, 3 Sep. 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

Under suitable heat and processing conditions, parts of this network can undergo bond-exchange reactions, allowing the network to rearrange rather than remaining permanently locked in one configuration.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026
For all his exposure to high-level competition while growing up in Southern California and playing for Team USA, Crow-Armstrong was still only 21, acclimating to the speed of the game and trying to fit into a team undergoing a late-season collapse.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

When combined with a hot blanket of the humidity the city has endured throughout the summer, players could be forced to withdraw from their matches or push through, risking injury.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
The biggest wild card is a secret Sunday world premiere with major names promised, underscoring the festival’s enduring appeal as a place where discoveries can happen.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 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

The sting of the title-game loss will remain, but a little reminder from the past — directly from the players who experienced it — certainly has the chance to leave a lasting impact for the future.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Since the assault, the woman has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of experience

Verb

So a manufacturer’s willingness to tolerate those costs is often determined by what the law requires.

— Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
The 130-micrometer polystyrene films came through untouched because spreading the same voltage across ten times the distance drops the field below what the material can tolerate.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of tolerate

Verb

If the folks in charge really fixed the offensive line, maybe new coach Todd Monken’s offense can create big plays and support a defense that still has top talent.

— Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The documentary is narrated by actor Gary Sinise, whose own direction in life was profoundly affected by the attacks and ultimately inspired the creation of his foundation to support veterans, first responders, and their families.

— Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of support

Browse Nearby Words

suspiring

sustain

sustainable

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“Sustain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustain. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sustain

verb

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