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 Because the liquid controls temperatures effectively, the battery can sustain a continuous 3C discharge rate. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 Though technically operating as an independent nonprofit, the museum is largely sustained with government funding from the city, state, and the Colombian Ministry of Culture. — Kim Córdova, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Whether this new financing model can be sustained remains to be seen. — CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026 Other sustaining injuries were linebacker Nick Martin (stinger) and safety Marques Sigle (oblique); cornerback Nate Hobbs did not play because of a groin injury that will keep him out this preseason. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 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
  • Since the 12th century London's guilds have nurtured generations of artisans, preserving skills while allowing each craft to evolve with every new era.
    — Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Career strength is one aspect, and such capabilities also are emerging within startups being nurtured within Y Combinator.
    — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • The defense has high-end talent and depth at most spots after undergoing a massive overhaul last season.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Spartans’ cornerback room is undergoing a reset, with just four returners who have limited starting experience and welcoming five transfers to the group, making for a crucial competition at camp.
    — Niles Hall, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • Swaths of Europe are enduring their fifth heatwave of the year this week, with parts of Britain, France, Spain and Italy under extreme heat warnings.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Yet for Asian countries that endured Japanese imperial rule and expansion, Yasukuni remains a symbol of Japan’s militarism.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • Ultimately, though, the highlight is grabbing a glass of local wine at the lobby bar, carrying it to any one of the viewpoints on the massive lawn, and watching sunset over the silent sound, feeling like everything the light touches is yours.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In Cali, a woman was pulled from under a mountain of rubble on Tuesday to cheers as firemen carried her out on a stretcher following a complex, multinational rescue operation.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Or, at the very least, set aside assets that can be liquidated to satisfy the guarantee even if that means that some assets will not be fully deployed to gain additional leverage.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • But some observers believe there’s nothing Paramount could agree to that would satisfy the state AGs or other opponents of the deal.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • The grief Sophie’s family has experienced is similar to post-traumatic stress, DeLeon notes, and feeling unheard or betrayed by law enforcement can only compound those emotions.
    — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Real Madrid have experienced success signing players from Levante.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of experience
Verb
  • Stern’s decisive response to the Malice at the Palace – the suspensions of the players as well as the punishments meted out to the fans – sent a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • People with digestive conditions that require a temporary low-fiber diet during flare-ups may also need to limit unhulled sesame seeds, since their fiber-rich outer hull can be difficult to tolerate.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sustain for Spanish Speakers

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