Definition of sustenancenext
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

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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 sustenance As its bright youth flees, Bunck said Cuba is left with an aging and shrinking population fighting for sustenance and power. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Aug. 2026 But between navigating selective palates, food allergies, social media-worthy lunchbox inspiration, food noise, and the inevitable comparisons with classmates, striking a balance between sustenance and satisfaction can quickly become overwhelming. — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026 Ponder will be charged with first-degree and second-degree child cruelty, and first-degree child cruelty - deprivation of necessary sustenance. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Such a commission would become another bureaucracy that accomplishes little beyond self-sustenance. — Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustenance
Noun
  • According to Euromonitor, high-protein foods, beverages and supplements generated more than $3 trillion in global retail sales in 2025.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The food is healthy, fresh, and inventive enough to persuade you to dine in for at least a couple of nights, in spite of Ubud’s strong and growing food scene.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • An oil-in-serum pulls the nourishment of oil into a lighter, serum-style formula.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
  • One bottle promises the nourishment of oil and the weightless finish of a serum.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustenance. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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