Definition of sustentationnext
1
as in maintenance
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition argues that a new toll is needed to pay for the long-term sustentation of the city's bridges

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2
as in preservation
the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state the all-important sustentation of Mount Vernon, Monticello, and other national treasures

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustentation
Noun
  • When a tool only automates a fraction of a task, but requires a $500,000 integration and continuous infrastructure maintenance, the ROI vanishes.
    Sridhar Yerramreddy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Native plants require less water and maintenance and provide food and shelter for bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife, connecting yards to their surrounding ecosystems.
    Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Sudan’s ongoing war is threatening the integrity of its ancient Meroe pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique and angular architecture, as preservation efforts have completely halted.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • While officials say the measures are purely precautionary and not prompted by structural concerns, preservation experts have questioned whether the potential impact on nearby cultural sites has been fully assessed.
    George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • There are solutions for age verification that are both accurate and privacy preserving.
    Annie Chestnut Tutor, Boston Herald, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • States set policy guardrails States are increasingly stepping in to set limits on HOA authority when private rules conflict with broader public interests related to renewable energy, wildlife conservation and water-saving landscaping.
    Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • While conservation measures were initially voluntary, Magyar’s government on Saturday issued a decree allowing for them to be made mandatory for large industrial or commercial consumers.
    Justin Spike, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Sustentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustentation. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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