sustentation

1 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 Synonyms care and feeding, conservation, conserving, keep, preservation, preserving, maintenance, upkeepRelated Words conservancy; support, sustaining; care, custody, guardianship; defense, guarding, protection, safeguarding, safekeepingNear Antonyms dereliction, disregard, ignoring, inattention, neglect, negligence; damage, demolition, destruction, harm, hurt, injury, ruin, ruination

2 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 Synonyms conservancy, preservation, conservationRelated Words care, maintenance, upkeep; salvation, saving; defense, guardianship, guarding, keeping, protection, safeguarding, safekeeping; economy, husbandry, managementNear Antonyms dereliction, ignoring, neglect, squandering, waste; destruction, ruin; damage, harm, hurt, injury