as in support
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in nurturing
to supply with nourishment
a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
sustained serious injuries in the car crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in enduring
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I won't sustain such insolence!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supporting
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 sustaining
Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Studios traditionally have offered upfront fees and residuals based upon a film’s or TV show’s earnings—sustaining payments that sometimes continue for years, based on its success.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
While the myth of the starving artist is so named for its hyperbole, sustaining a living wage as an artist is an ongoing struggle few would deny.
—Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 13 Mar. 2026
General manager David Lee emphasizes a balance of sustaining a strong youth pipeline, developing the current senior roster and being active in the transfer market.
—Pj Green
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Another service member died on Saturday after sustaining injuries during an attack in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
Achieving and sustaining a safe and functional environment that is welcoming to commerce, investment and individuals has been a challenge.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
In the labor movements of the thirties, the civil rights movement of the sixties, and the Grenadian revolution of 1979, the poem has always been a collaborator in the work of creating and sustaining movements.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
The prayers from the community around us have been so sustaining in this difficult season.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
These molecules could serve as the building blocks of more complex organic molecules, which are vital in the development and sustaining of life.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
He was limited to just three games in 2024 after sustaining a torn patellar tendon the previous season.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Studios traditionally have offered upfront fees and residuals based upon a film’s or TV show’s earnings—sustaining payments that sometimes continue for years, based on its success.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
While the myth of the starving artist is so named for its hyperbole, sustaining a living wage as an artist is an ongoing struggle few would deny.
—Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 13 Mar. 2026
General manager David Lee emphasizes a balance of sustaining a strong youth pipeline, developing the current senior roster and being active in the transfer market.
—Pj Green
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Another service member died on Saturday after sustaining injuries during an attack in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
Achieving and sustaining a safe and functional environment that is welcoming to commerce, investment and individuals has been a challenge.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
In the labor movements of the thirties, the civil rights movement of the sixties, and the Grenadian revolution of 1979, the poem has always been a collaborator in the work of creating and sustaining movements.
—Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026
The prayers from the community around us have been so sustaining in this difficult season.
—Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustaining
Noun
-
Alcantara received plenty of support from his lineup in the form of four home runs and six strong innings from the bullpen tossed in a 7-5 win at Miami’s loanDepot park as the Dominican Republic went a perfect 4-0 in pool play.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Ecuador set to attack crime groups QUITO, Ecuador -- Ecuador will launch a major offensive against criminal organizations in three western provinces this weekend with logistical support from the United States, the interior minister said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Garcia transitioned into the position of rehearsal director and discovered a love for nurturing the company culture.—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Your 8th House of Intimacy and your 12th House of Secrets can benefit from this supportive trine between the nurturing Moon and therapeutic Chiron.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Arriving in the Coachella Valley, with its impossibly blue skies and neighboring Joshua Tree wilderness, one's sense of scale and perspective soon recalibrates; a prerequisite, perhaps, for experiencing a city that has long served as refuge.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The class of 2026 dedicated their focus on Bridge of Hope San Diego, a nonprofit organization that supports families experiencing housing insecurity and crisis.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps enduring the toxic black clouds raining carcinogenic oil over their heads is the final indignity the citizens of Tehran must face before their ultimate salvation.—
Arvand Khosravi,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Katherine has built an incredible track record of bringing premium content to market and building enduring partnerships with top-tier talent that has consistently positioned the studio at the forefront of the industry.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 14ers are the supporters group of Summit FC, comprising of about 350 fans who are focused on supporting, engaging, and growing Colorado’s community of pro women’s soccer fans.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The artificial septet also nabbed the trophy for worst supporting actor.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Its psychedelic interludes exist to snap back into satisfying rhythms.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Blending helps turn veggies and stock into a surprisingly thick and satisfying soup.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mosaku is undergoing her own rediscovery, as the film encouraged her to reconnect with her roots.—
Kemi Alemoru,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2026
-
For one, the AI system undergoing the test should not have access to summaries of its own hardware specification or tools that can reveal it.—
Dimitris Tsementzis,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Native to East Africa, this drought-tolerant plant doesn't need a lot of attention, tolerating underwatering and a variety of light conditions.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For too long, Wyoming has been an outlier in tolerating extreme cruelty toward its wild carnivores.—
Wendy Keefover,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sustaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustaining. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
