1
: a long pillow or cushion
2
: a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing (see bearing sense 5)
Synonyms
Examples of bolster in a Sentence
Verb
She came with me to bolster my confidence.
a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker's reputation
She is thinking of ways to bolster her career.
Recent Examples on the Web
Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 24 Jan. 2025
The braided side bolsters can also be reshaped to fit around a dog’s body to be even more comforting.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2024
Jordan Smith, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025
Even more alarmingly, his recent hateful rhetoric has begun to embolden white supremacists who’ve recently been spreading bigoted hate speech — and using West’s name to bolster their arguments.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bolster 
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Noun
Turn your neck to one side and rest your head on the bolster.
—Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 24 Jan. 2025
The braided side bolsters can also be reshaped to fit around a dog’s body to be even more comforting.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
And regular activity levels can help bolster sleep quality, which can improve focus during performances too, McMillian says.
—Jordan Smith, SELF, 7 Feb. 2025
Even more alarmingly, his recent hateful rhetoric has begun to embolden white supremacists who’ve recently been spreading bigoted hate speech — and using West’s name to bolster their arguments.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bolster
Dictionary Entries Near bolster
Cite this Entry
“Bolster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolster. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bolster
1 of 2 noun
bol·ster
ˈbōl-stər 
1
: a long pillow or cushion
2
: a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support
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