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!

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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 Passed on a unanimous tally of 49-0 (two members missed the roll call) means a Mamdani veto would have zero chance of being sustained. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026 What makes this more than a set of pilot programs is the infrastructure now being built to sustain it. — Matt Gandal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 The report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the ship sustained minor damage without any of its crew being injured. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Jugend Rettet is currently pursuing legal action against Italy's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, seeking compensation for the damage sustained while the ship remained under state custody. — Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustain

Verb

More than an intricate game of cat-and-mouse, the crime drama plays on the tensions between nature and nurture while unpacking the dangers and vulnerabilities that come with loving other people.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026
Yet the underlying business model of these platforms depended more on maximizing engagement and advertising revenue than on nurturing authentic relationships.

— Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of nurture

Verb

North Field on Tinian, which was once the busiest airport in the world, was shut down after the war but is undergoing renovation to become an alternate base to Guam as Washington tries to disperse its assets around the region.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
It is recommended that any batteries in devices that will be stored for significant periods should undergo a maintenance routine to maintain their health by charging them to half capacity every six months.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

The latest in Houston Salgado Araujo, 52, was driving to work with three other construction crew members when unmarked vehicles carrying federal agents began following his van, his family said.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Proof that the country our parents carried in their voices, their food, their music, and their sacrifices was never exaggerated.

— Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of carry

Verb

Pharmaceutical companies rely on IQVIA's data to design studies, identify patients, recruit trial participants, satisfy regulators, and increasingly train AI models.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 July 2026
The bánh cuốn đặc biệt — a combination plate with plain steamed rice sheets, sheets stuffed with ground pork and mushroom and pieces filled with shrimp — satisfied my internet FOMO cravings.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of satisfy

Verb

The Democratic Party, less than four months from a pivotal midterm election, is navigating a new kind of culture war over exactly what kind of behavior — from candidates and staff — the party should tolerate.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
Engineers also incorporated seismic protection features that allow the bridge to better tolerate ground movement, an essential requirement in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Definition of tolerate

Verb

The director of personal training at Chelsea Piers Fitness told Harper’s Bazaar that when used correctly, the plates can improve circulation and lymphatic flow, supporting recovery and reducing fluid buildup.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
Today, Tejada is studying health care in college with the goal of working for an organization that supports domestic violence survivors.

— Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Definition of support

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suspiring

sustain

sustainable

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“Sustain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustain. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sustain

verb

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