sustains

present tense third-person singular of sustain
1
as in nurtures
to supply with nourishment a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch

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2
as in undergoes
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it sustained serious injuries in the car crash

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3
4
as in supports
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 sustains French biologist Pierre Joliot helped answer how photosynthetic organisms split water to produce the oxygen that sustains life on Earth. — Delthia Ricks, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2026 What Actually Interrupts The Pattern If the organization sustains the behavior, then the organization is what has to change. — Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 But the secret sauce for Bring a Trailer started almost immediately, and sustains the site today in the face of competitors like Cars & Bids. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 29 Oct. 2026 This difference influences how nuclear fuel behaves and how a reactor sustains fission. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 As a genre that sustains narrative variety and experimentation through cutting-edge style, horror almost certainly produces more than any one fan has time to find, let alone watch. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026 Something that died but will not stay dead, that sustains itself by feeding on the living and destroying them in turn. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 Those rights include a political inclusivity that sustains democracies. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026 Her work reflects a deep commitment to standing with the people whose labor sustains communities across California. — The Sacramento Bee Staff, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
  • If curious extraterrestrial visitors were to reconnoiter Earth, they might well be struck by a planet that nurtures such an inordinate number of chickens.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a shoe for everyone who nurtures, Saucony noted.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • To strengthen the troublesome solar cell interface, the NIMTE research team inserted an ultra-thin indium chloride intermediate layer that undergoes a localized reaction upon heating.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Plaza Hotel will close in January 2027 for at least four years as the landmark undergoes extensive restoration work, the hotel said in a press release shared with Fox News Digital.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The point is to capture love and humanity that endures in the face of that extreme violence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The camaraderie endures even in success, and is palpable in a viral clip from June of the cast watching and then raucously celebrating as the New York Knicks pulled off an electric comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The award supports development of its wider Frenzy engine family.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Connecticut For All, a progressive coalition of more than 60 faith, labor and other civic organizations, also supports this option.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In an email, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said that every committee member satisfies the FDA’s ethics requirements.
    — Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In an email, HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard wrote that every committee member satisfies the FDA’s ethics requirements.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Their vision is grand, but what happens if Starship experiences delays?
    — Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • An agent does not experience a block the same way a person experiences a locked door.
    — Dvir Ginzburg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ye-ji has a hunky hedge-fund-type husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung), who condescendingly tolerates, but doesn’t finance, his wife’s cinematic caprices.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even if your skin generally tolerates exfoliation well, dermatologists warn that AHAs can increase sun sensitivity, making your skin more vulnerable to UV damage.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Snoring can be a signal of undiagnosed sleep apnea, which carries cardiovascular risk.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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