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 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
  1. nurture
  2. undergo
  3. endure
  4. carry
  5. satisfy
  6. experience
  7. tolerate
  8. support
Verb
  • Ultimately, leading authentically is a powerful asset, enabling a life aligned with one's vision and building deep trust, beginning with introspection and self-nurturing.
    — ByKaren R. McDaniel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Lassally won two Emmy awards over the years, while discovering and nurturing multiple generations of talent.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 July 2026
Definition of nurture
Verb
  • Young striker Jayden Danns needs to be assessed after feeling discomfort in his hamstring last week, while Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck are still undergoing rehab following injuries.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • When the musician was first diagnosed, it was believed her condition would be easily treated with radiation, but complications required her to undergo multiple surgeries.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026
Definition of undergo
Verb
  • But for many Georgians who volunteered, worked, performed or attended the Games, the memories that have endured are far more personal.
    — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Iran’s hardline regime achieves a victory of sorts simply by enduring and surviving.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • That was part of his wider goal of sending endless waves of bomb-carrying drones and robots to hit Russian encampments in a bid to sharply reduce Ukraine’s casualties.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The port of entry handled $126 billion in trade carried by commercial trucks in 2023, Reuters reported.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Dunphy said there are valid examples of how the Moda renovations could satisfy using the fund.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • In the United Kingdom, Rumours alone is not enough to satisfy listeners’ demand.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • And internet watchdog NetBlocks, which monitors worldwide internet access, noted that Facebook and Instagram users were experiencing international outages, unrelated to any country-level internet disruption.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • My cousin, who is also experiencing financial difficulties, agreed to move in for one to two years to help out.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 18 July 2026
Definition of experience
Verb
  • The Steamfitters were staging protests outside the Pfizer site, accusing the MetroLoft — which employs a mix of union and nonunion contractors — of building on the cheap and tolerating unsafe work conditions.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
  • The remaining mainstream buyers, who are far more price-sensitive and less willing to tolerate the inconveniences of electric vehicles, aren’t gobbling up the technology.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of tolerate
Verb
  • The engine already supports several missile applications, with Pratt & Whitney delivering more than 2,700 units to customers worldwide.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • Sinking land and rising tides Despite the enthusiasm for building Miami higher, the question remains whether the city can quite literally support it.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of support

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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 24 Jul. 2026.

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