SUSTENANCES 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

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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 That diligence paid off, and on Main Street, businesses were quickly up and running, providing us with resources and sustenance. —

Erin Austen Abbott, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026 Every human culture known to science has some form of dance – remarkable for something that, on face value, does not satisfy any basic need for sustenance or procreation. —

Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026 Picture yourself at the outset of a long road trip or backpacking journey, with nothing but a small amount of gear and some ideas for generating money and sustenance along the way. —

Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026 Marine microbes such as bacteria and phytoplankton form the foundation of ocean food webs, providing sustenance for creatures ranging from zooplankton to whales and supporting fisheries that feed billions of people. —

Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustenance

Noun

Her reporting has taken her all over the world, from Patagonia to Tokyo to the Amazon Rainforest, and she is fascinated by the ways that travel intersects with style, food, music, nightlife, identity, and politics.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2026
The proposal calls for a 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties, a 5% innkeepers tax in Lake County and a 12% admissions tax to help build a stadium.

— Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026