bolster 1 of 2

verb

Definition of bolsternext
1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for used additional beams to bolster the ceiling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) a couple of tournament wins would bolster the extravagant claims that have been made on behalf of the young golfer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bolster

2 of 2

noun

as in arch

Related Words

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 bolster
Verb
Neymar came into the match about 10 minutes after Endrick, bolstering the offense with a flair that Brazil desperately needed. — Doha Madani, NBC news, 5 July 2026 At the committee hearing, Wahab said the bill is meant to increase transparency over the county’s discretionary funds by bolstering public oversight of the county’s money and adding new checks on how taxpayer funds get spent. — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Noun
Each end is equipped with a removable bolster pillow to create a cozy spot to undo your laces at the end of the day, while the interior cubby is spacious enough to hold anything from vibrant bedding to seasonal decor. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026 Designed with plush ComfyFleece fabric and supportive memory foam, this dog bed gently cushions joints while the wraparound bolster sides create a secure, calming space for rest and relaxation. — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolster
  1. sustain
  2. reinforce
  3. arch
  4. support
  5. bracket
  6. carry
  7. pillar
  8. uphold
Verb
  • Two firefighters died from injures sustained while fighting the blaze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The company may be showing some signs of financial stabilization, but sustaining a turnaround will depend on whether change takes hold throughout the entire organization.
    — Andrew Staples, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of sustain
Verb
  • But the additional wording on the MSG sign about confidentiality during and post-event reinforces that there is no livestream, no TV broadcast and likely a social media blackout – until Swift and Kelce deem otherwise.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Goldman Sachs reinforced that view this week, initiating coverage with a buy rating and a $186 price target.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of reinforce
Noun
  • Trump gleefully tearing up large chunks of the White House and my hometown, trying to install a solipsistic arch, an exclusive golf course, a gargantuan ballroom and a garden of heroes — all to his Versailles-on-acid specifications.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • The platform shoes add extra height, while providing extra cushioning for arch-support and shock absorption.
    — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of arch
Verb
  • During a 2019-20 artist residency with New York City’s Department of Records and Information Services, Weist mined municipal archives for records revealing how city government had defined, supported and monitored past artists.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Developed by L3Harris Technologies under the Combat Mission Systems Support framework, the system will be operated by the command's Space Delta 3 (DEL 3) – Space Electromagnetic Warfare, with acquisition and sustainment supported by System Delta 89.
    — David Szondy July 06, New Atlas, 7 July 2026
Definition of support
Noun
  • PortaSplit’s outdoor unit clips onto a window bracket, needs no drilling, and is classified as furniture rather than a fixture — sidestepping facade-modification bans in cities like Paris.
    — Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Examples include an agent that suggests a Roth conversion without looking at the life situation—such as age or tax bracket—or a support agent that infers CSAT is high due to dropping call volumes but doesn’t know a major telecom system is down.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of bracket
Verb
  • Just assume that any animal is going to carry disease, and rabies is one of them.
    — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of carry
Noun
  • The only way to preserve our republic is to strengthen the pillars of our present with the mortar of our past.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • These clips, showing first-person views from drones striking military and logistical sites, have become a pillar of Ukraine’s wartime propaganda efforts to illustrate battlefield successes against Russia.
    — Marc Santora, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of pillar
Verb
  • On the surface, the Supreme Court’s June 30 opinion upholding state laws barring transgender girls from women’s and girl’s sports teams looks like a victory for women’s rights.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Last year, the Supreme Court upheld a different Texas law requiring that pornographic websites verify users are at least 18 to allow access.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of uphold

Browse Nearby Words

bolshevism
bolster
bolstered
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Cite this Entry

“Bolster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolster. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bolster for Spanish Speakers

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