sustains

Definition of sustainsnext
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 Ayton sustains knee injury in first quarter Lakers center Deandre Ayton left the game in the first quarter after sustaining a knee injury. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Read side by side, the books also demonstrate the collective labor that sustains Ukrainian poetry today. Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026 The red-Solo-cup energy that sustains MAGA was in full effect, and America’s youngest voters—especially young men—were drawn in. Sarah Longwell, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026 Prohibition undermines personal liberty, sends billions in potential revenue to other states, and sustains dangerous black markets instead of replacing them with a safe, regulated system. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 Medicaid exists to provide access to health care, not to penalize the unpaid labor that sustains families and communities. Emily D. Tisdale, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026 This is not snow in Denver or along the Front Range, but mountain snow at higher elevations, the kind that feeds reservoirs and rivers during spring runoff and sustains water supplies into early summer. Joe Ruch, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026 Beyond a mere merger of assets, this union could jeopardize the ancillary market ecosystem that sustains theatrical filmmaking. Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026 Forget about climbing the ladder, Capricorn — 2026 is about building something that truly sustains you. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
  • That mulch covering the not-so-lovely fabric traps wayward weed seeds and nurtures them.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • This temporary form of hair shedding is called telogen effluvium and can happen any time the body undergoes significant physiological or psychological strain.
    Julia Sullivan, Allure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The hotel’s announcement on March 5 notes that the Chalet will serve as the heart of hotel operations while the main manor undergoes repair, and that access to the hotel spa, The Retreat at Castle Hill by Farmaesthetics, will be temporarily located on the Chalet’s upper level.
    Savana Dunning, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For every schlocky, derivative entry, there’s one that endures.
    Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
  • The six-foot blooming stalks with pink or purple flowers in summer make a handsome vertical accent that endures well into fall.
    Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Resting supports your long-term resilience.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Nonfat yogurt still supports steady glucose thanks to its protein content.
    Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And Winnipeg must be able to provide the asset quality that satisfies the selling team.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The result is a cycle that satisfies legal definitions of accountability while leaving unresolved questions about whether training, culture and policy are doing enough to change outcomes.
    Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Without gravity pulling downward, the brain floats in the skull and experiences various forces from the surrounding soft tissues and the skull itself.
    Rachael Seidler, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Psychosis is defined as when a person experiences an alteration in their perception of reality, impacting their ability to think clearly and manage their emotions.
    Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Grown as an annual in most climates or a perennial in warmer locales, dusty miller prefers full sun, tolerates drought, and is resistant to most pests.
    Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
  • This cedar tolerates hot and humid Southern summers and is drought tolerant once established.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Casap may never change after ‘horrific’ crimes First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.
    Todd Richmond, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Finally, many families will need to analyze whether to invest alone or with partners – a decision that carries its own set of advantages and trade‑offs.
    Belinda G. Schwartz, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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