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
The answer is that the chlorophyll pigment dominant in green leaves is more efficient at triggering photosynthesis — the process by which plants make the sugar that sustains them — than the pigments dominant in darker leaves.
—
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Rimsky-Korsakov sustains that urgency, creating a narrative through music that moves and reshapes itself in surprising ways.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Though local histories differ, fossil capitalism and the imperialism that sustains it have produced a regional trauma carried across borders in memory, bodies and ecosystems.
—Mehrnoush Soroush, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In Isaiah’s time and in ours, grass sustains us.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Its success depends on the confidence and engagement of the community that sustains it.
—Ted G Callam, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Pet owners face a maximum fine of $500 and up to six months in county jail if the pet dies or sustains a significant physical injury while left unattended in the vehicle.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Year-round, the community sustains Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theater, the Irish Rowing Club, the Gaelic Arts Society and the Ceili Club.
—Paula Kane, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Rimsky-Korsakov sustains that urgency, creating a narrative through music that moves and reshapes itself in surprising ways.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Though local histories differ, fossil capitalism and the imperialism that sustains it have produced a regional trauma carried across borders in memory, bodies and ecosystems.
—Mehrnoush Soroush, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In Isaiah’s time and in ours, grass sustains us.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Its success depends on the confidence and engagement of the community that sustains it.
—Ted G Callam, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Pet owners face a maximum fine of $500 and up to six months in county jail if the pet dies or sustains a significant physical injury while left unattended in the vehicle.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Year-round, the community sustains Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theater, the Irish Rowing Club, the Gaelic Arts Society and the Ceili Club.
—Paula Kane, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
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That mulch covering the not-so-lovely fabric traps wayward weed seeds and nurtures them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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The first two works came from alumni of the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, a program that nurtures emerging composers each year.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Part of that friction is structural, as the reality TV landscape undergoes its own contraction.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
-
By the end of 2029, another section of downtown Arlington’s could transform as the city undergoes multiple revitalization projects.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This narrow band of conversion rates in the low single digits stubbornly endures even as the ecosystem grows more sophisticated.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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The nation that endures partly because of that principle owes a debt of gratitude to the New York Times, which filed a First Amendment lawsuit in Friedman’s court.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Norris supports paper ballots instead of voting machines, according to his campaign website.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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More noteworthy initiatives include the hotel’s green roof, which supports urban biodiversity, and its five-year Habitat Management Plan, run by a team of ecologists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For those partial to a glaze, a drizzle of maple syrup at the end satisfies anyone who loves a sweet finish.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2026
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After several critiques by WNBA hoopers in recent seasons regarding revenue share, the league finally decided to split earnings with its players — but not at the percentage that satisfies those players.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In neighboring Kenya, which experiences seasonal flooding each year, at least 88 people have been killed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Rattlesnakes, which are typically most active in spring and summer, appear to have been drawn out earlier than usual this year as the Southland experiences the hottest March on record.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The full study was published in the journal Arthropoda, and its findings describe an organism that tolerates urban noise and vibrations better than most animals — which is why the species is thriving in urban areas across the Southeast.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
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This long-blooming plant loves the heat, tolerates drought, and doesn’t need fancy soil—sandy, rocky, or poor soils are all fair game, says Gifford.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the criteria the employer has to weigh, including personality and work ethic, the candidate’s ability to do the job carries the most weight.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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The first offense carries a maximum of a year in county jail, according to the bill.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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