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

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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 sustains This difference influences how nuclear fuel behaves and how a reactor sustains fission. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 In this account, its processing does not intrinsically continue the fourfold coherence through which nature sustains intelligence. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 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 The lake creates a temperate microclimate that sustains one of the country’s most productive fruit-growing regions—and makes this the best possible place to forget a packed lunch. — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026 The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation provides resources and support for artists, engages with the community, and sustains the legacy of its founding artists, Joan Beauregard and David Ellis. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
  • The result is a shoe for everyone who nurtures, Saucony noted.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Additionally, an irrigation system that uses recycled water nurtures the lush tropical landscape.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Desperate to get that handsome life back, Hagen undergoes an experimental procedure that initially works only to give way to a scary new reality with shape-shifting skin.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is eliminating its Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission, as the organization undergoes cultural changes under its new president Kirsty Coventry.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The interdictions come as Cuba endures its worst energy crisis in decades.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The inanimate matter of the Earth endures, as does its atmosphere.
    — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Jackson supports expanding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps certain homeowners and renters with energy costs.
    — Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The integrated workflow also supports maintenance and repair, helping the team identify hardware issues and return robots to testing faster.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • As that churn suggests, none of these stories satisfies him, none proves sufficient to sustain a self.
    — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Years later, after Leslie experiences severe financial difficulty and is hospitalized, both parents become more present.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In a typical season, the Atlantic region experiences five hurricanes and two major hurricanes by early October.
    — Christopher Davis, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Scientists have long marveled at how the human body tolerates extreme heat — and what that means for our health.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
  • That also suggests the league accepts, or at least tolerates, the flag-heavy officiating that has come to define the early months of the season.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Brown ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added a scoring pass.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Pettaway finished with 119 yards rushing on 14 carries that included a 12-yard touchdown run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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