SUSTENANCE Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

sustenance

noun

ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s

as in food

something that maintains or stimulates the intellect my only sustenance on the long flight was a trashy novel I'd bought in the airport

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sustenance Patrons grab coladas and cortaditos to kick-start their mornings, while others wolf down breakfast platters for sustenance or arrive on their lunch breaks for pan con bistec or Cuban sandwiches, maybe a burger or palomilla steak. —

Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026 On a recent Sunday afternoon at a South Austin coffee shop, Hinojosa downed a bright orange vitamin C drink, her only sustenance after a quick Mexican breakfast between stops hours earlier. —

Karen Brooks Harper austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026 Reducing bureaucracy and streamlining industry fees are key pillars of achieving sustenance and making Nigerian producers competitive. —

Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026 So people are getting more and more frustrated— My concern is with the sustenance of democracy and democratic institutions. —

David Remnick, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustenance

Noun

The study and device are likely to help researchers understand biological systems, such as circadian rhythms, and nonreciprocal processes, such as how the body breaks down food.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Local 142's donation drive in Honolulu, which accepts blankets, non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, and waterproof clothing.

— KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026