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 Fulchers’ house, which was located in their park, sustained minor damage, but their relatives’ property, a couple hundred yards upstream, was destroyed. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 The turnaround is complete, and the goal now is sustaining it. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Instead of measuring how fast or far a user went during a run or bike ride, or metrics like calories burned, Cardio Effort measures how hard their cardiovascular system was working during exercise and how long that effort was sustained. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026 Wood sustained the night’s momentum, and Barone killed it with fresh-from-the-notebook jokes that were like a darker version of McNally’s take on singlehood. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustain

Verb

Launched in 2024, the initiative is part of El Gouna’s CineGouna Emerge program aimed at nurturing the next generation of MENA film professionals.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026
The three children and a teacher shot to death at Silver Rail Elementary School in central Oregon were in a classroom dedicated to students with special needs – an environment that’s supposed to be nurturing, safe and supportive.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of nurture

Verb

The Bearcat football community came together to support her son, Sam Soto, a third-generation Arlington High student and football player undergoing cancer treatment.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
The test will be whether the Student List can transition their popular mobilization in the streets into a viable political option that can win an election and govern a country that hasn’t undergone a political transition in over a decade.

— Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

The Ukrainian capital endured a noisy night as 21 ballistic missiles came in three waves, Zelenskyy said, smashing apartment buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and the Kyiv subway system, shopping malls and businesses.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Lebanon endured an intense civil war.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of endure

Verb

During captive-carry testing, engineers can assess equipment carried by an aircraft before proceeding to more demanding flight demonstrations.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
For airlines, the larger plane offers a way to carry more passengers on a single flight, potentially lowering costs per seat.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of carry

Verb

That answer is unlikely to satisfy many Democratic primary voters, according to a poll of six early primary states conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Some have questioned whether the 76ers can keep all of their stars satisfied this season, but Embiid believes the team can succeed without forcing its stars to make major sacrifices or drastically alter their playing styles.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfy

Verb

Thanks to their actions, their teacher survived, and is one of approximately 350,000 Americans who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.

— Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
The opening of the III Points fest sounded a sour note for thousands of fans who poured into Wynwood for a weekend of music only to experience ticketing issues, delays and chaos among the crowd.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of experience

Verb

The ban had been imposed by the central elections committee, a political body dominated by Netanyahu allies, on the basis that the parties supported armed struggle against Israel.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
For a government overseeing a population dominated by mobile expats, that created a lot of uncertainty in terms of establishing an economic base that can support a welfare system and basic state infrastructure.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of support

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suspiring

sustain

sustainable

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Style

“Sustain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustain. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sustain

verb

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