buttress 1 of 2

noun

ˈbə-trəs How to pronounce buttress (audio)
Definition of buttressnext
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1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times

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2
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress

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buttress

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for a brace buttressed the wall

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2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) a mass of circumstantial evidence buttresses the prosecutor's case

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 buttress
Noun
The likes of that front-end logo, flying buttresses, and unique silhouette are all shared by both, and TWR upholds its longstanding association with the Jaguar brand by adhering to the design elements that set it apart. — New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2025 The chapel reflected the Gothic Revival style with a high gabled slate roof, long, narrow Gothic arched windows with limestone surround and brick turret buttresses at the corners, according to the St. Joseph Historic Area Preservation Plan from 1991. — Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
Those improved profits were buttressed by a record year for production arm ITV Studios, according to the commercial net, which saw EBITA rise 5% to £300M despite the recent hit from the Hollywood strikes. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025 The slight distortions of bodily forms and spatial construction do not push Newgate—Exercise Yard into the realm of fantasy, but rather are tools to buttress the overarching sense of monotony and drudgery. — Sarah C. Schaefer, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buttress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttress
  1. anchor
  2. support
  3. sustain
  4. reinforce
  5. pillar
  6. bolster
  7. backbone
  8. reinforcement
Noun
  • That’s been the anchor of the whole collection, that sort of nineties period.
    — Asif Burhan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The only thing the village needs to provide — pavement anchors for booths — are already in place, Haas and Soleim noted.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Each pair of shoes is fitted with cork and foam insoles that mold to your foot shape to provide personalized support and cushioning, while the outsoles are made from slip-resistant rubber that will keep you comfy and confident on slick city streets.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The South Korean military report came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russia’s war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, last week in Pyongyang.
    — Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of support
Verb
  • Clear communication, transparency and alignment with new regulatory demands help sustain engagement and stability, allowing the organization to scale while maintaining a strong employee experience.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul died in the crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel while Fayed's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, sustained serious injuries.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • In 2017, the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee approved a project to reinforce the lower third of the bluff with erodible concrete.
    — Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Results from 2024, with total grosses slipping 4% from 2023 to $8.57 billion, the number of wide releases down 6% from pre-Covid levels, and other factors have only reinforced his view.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • To combat these effects, conservation efforts, sustainable agriculture, and global restoration initiatives are essential to preserving forests as pillars of climate resilience and food sustainability.
    — Dianne Plummer, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • While representing different pillars of hip-hop, 50 and Kanye have been pop-culture fixtures for more than two decades.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of pillar
Verb
  • Partnerships with Local Enterprises Strategic collaborations with small and mid-sized enterprises bolster both community integration and financial sustainability.
    — Priya Oberoi, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Those odds have only improved after the front office bolstered what was already a championship roster by adding starting pitchers Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and closer Tanner Scott.
    — Mark Ross, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of bolster
Noun
  • Many Amazon sellers are small business owners relying on the platform as a side job to earn extra income or as the backbone of their small and medium-sized businesses.
    — Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Songs by James Taylor will serve as the backbone for a new musical, which is in the early development stages.
    — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of backbone
Noun
  • Turing Award: The award, often called the Nobel Prize of computing, was given to Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton, the developers of a technique called reinforcement learning that is vital to chatbots.
    — Eli Tan, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • By engaging employees in the process of creating their own learning plans and using them as a guideline for managing that person, managers establish a cycle of positive reinforcement that has tangible benefits.
    — Bruce Tulgan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of reinforcement

Browse Nearby Words

button (up)
buttress
buttressed
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Cite this Entry

“Buttress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttress. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on buttress

Nglish: Translation of buttress for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about buttress

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