1
2
as in undergoes
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
sustained serious injuries in the car crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in endures
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I won't sustain such insolence!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of sustains
Forget about climbing the ladder, Capricorn — 2026 is about building something that truly sustains you.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Vision is valuable, but execution sustains teams.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The move can hold so long as ‘rate of change’ sustains.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Meltzer heeds the playwright’s direction, and the cast sustains that energy, keeping scenes moving seamlessly from intimate exchanges to larger ensemble moments.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Nearly 30 years later, that music still sustains her.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
The gotcha setup sustains a solid level of suspense that carries through the series’ eight episodes (though it could easily have been trimmed to six).
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The addition of glycerin in Matkas’s serum sustains the formula’s quenching effects.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Vision is valuable, but execution sustains teams.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The move can hold so long as ‘rate of change’ sustains.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Meltzer heeds the playwright’s direction, and the cast sustains that energy, keeping scenes moving seamlessly from intimate exchanges to larger ensemble moments.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Nearly 30 years later, that music still sustains her.
—Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2026
The gotcha setup sustains a solid level of suspense that carries through the series’ eight episodes (though it could easily have been trimmed to six).
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The addition of glycerin in Matkas’s serum sustains the formula’s quenching effects.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
-
Speak gently and firmly, because safety nurtures real closeness.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Its formula also included a blend of healing, hydrating ingredients, like Kalahari Melon seed oil that nurtures dry, brittle hair, and Tahitian gardenia flower extract that strengthens.—
Eva Thomas,
InStyle,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Beyond this natural system of supply and demand, Bitcoin undergoes a process known as halving in order to regulate token inflow.—
Jason Phillips,
Ascend Agency,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In this aerial image, heavy machinery is visible at the beginning of the demolition of the Atlanta Medical Center as the site undergoes its transformation into a new face of the developing project on Monday, June 30, 2025.—
Ariel Hart,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coaching that endures tends to center on helping people navigate real challenges, whether that means stabilizing a business, adapting to technological change or developing skills that translate into measurable outcomes.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Just as Rome anchored a vast empire, character development anchors our understanding of why bright‑side leadership derails and why dark‑side leadership endures.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The simulator also supports different vehicle types.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Bluetooth chipset also supports multi-point pairing so that two devices can be connected at the same time.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The trial court now will have to resolve whether the Salvation Army’s work therapy satisfies this two-part test.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Wrestling satisfies a natural need for performance and competition.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump said late Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a temporary pause in targeting Kyiv and other places as the region experiences freezing temperatures that have brought widespread hardship to civilians.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Best Times to Visit for Good Weather Unsurprisingly, Dallas experiences its best weather in the spring and fall.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This is because its shell dissipates mechanical energy and tolerates nanoparticle inclusion in ways that synthetic materials seek to emulate for aerospace, armor and protective coating applications.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This low-maintenance shrub tolerates salt, drought, and heat.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In season eight, that impulse carries Mallozzi from the shores of Cuba to the interior mountains of Taiwan and the heart of New Zealand’s Māori communities.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In other words, every ending carries the promise of expansion.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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