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 Many were born and raised in coastal towns where the sea has provided sustenance for generations. Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 The land sits less than one mile away from Jackie and Shadow’s nest, and this part of the lake is home to all of the fish that the eagles and their eaglets rely on for sustenance. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 June 2026 They had been hunted out of existence—shot for personal sustenance, shot for sale as food by market hunters, shot for their hides. Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 This provides an immense source of sustenance for animals, similar to how hydrothermal vents create their own ecosystems on the ocean floor. CBS News, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustenance
Noun
  • Misting systems also are being used on the exterior to reduce smells from the rotting food, while air quality monitoring is continuing in eight locations.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Nevertheless, there’s a Moon Alert in effect, which means restrict spending to food and gas and wait until tomorrow to make important decisions.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • Five-Star Weekend, a Peacock series out July 9, is about a food influencer Hollis Shaw (Jennifer Garner) who is in need of a new kind of nourishment after her husband Matthew (Josh Hamilton) dies suddenly in a car accident.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 9 July 2026
  • Cold soups and leafy salads step up to the main course, providing clean and refreshing nourishment, while taking advantage of the bounty of the garden and farmers markets.
    Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustenance. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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