bolsters 1 of 2

Definition of bolstersnext
present tense third-person singular of bolster
1
as in supports
to hold up or serve as a foundation for used additional beams to bolster the ceiling

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2
as in reinforces
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

bolsters

2 of 2

noun

plural of bolster

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 bolsters
Verb
In a cash crunch, streaming subscriptions also tend to be casualties, which only bolsters the value of over-the-air TV when Americans are keeping a tight grip on their checkbooks. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026 Wemby bolsters his defensive-minded MVP case Wembanyama argued after Monday's win at Miami that his defensive excellence should factor into him winning MVP. Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026 Recent polling bolsters the belief among his possible primary foes that Fetterman could be vulnerable in 2028, with 62% of Pennsylvania Democrats disapproving of his job in a Quinnipiac poll released last month. Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026 The recording bolsters the appearance that Nathan’s The Agency Group — a top PR shop in the entertainment industry whose clients have included Drake and Johnny Depp, and has frequently worked with Freedman — deployed websites featuring character-assassinating claims about Ghost. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026 Musgrove’s history of performing well and working through maladies bolsters the Padres’ confidence. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 More hires are expected in coming months as the company bolsters the film distribution operation. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026 In Abbas Kiarostami’s work, embracing the way that people who aren’t in the movie business talk and move bolsters the films’ documentary essence. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026 The new retail arrival bolsters Stonebriar Centre, which is set to bring in others this year. Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolsters
Verb
  • Norris supports paper ballots instead of voting machines, according to his campaign website.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • More noteworthy initiatives include the hotel’s green roof, which supports urban biodiversity, and its five-year Habitat Management Plan, run by a team of ecologists.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Orkin reinforces your home's protections, targets those who have weaseled their way into your home, and starts to prep for the colder season where all those bugs will want to come back into your warm and cozy walls.
    Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • This new endeavor signals a strategic evolution in her career, bridging hip-hop with theater in a way that reinforces her while aligning her with one of Broadway’s most celebrated shows.
    Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • However, with credits, deductions, different tax brackets and a host of other things, determining what your taxable income actually is can be tricky.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Older age brackets tend to have larger nest eggs, but even workers who are nearing retirement often fall short.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Iran war hasn’t yet taken on the coloration of an economic threat, although that bulks large on the horizon if the disruption of oil supplies created by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz continues or tightens or the Middle East energy infrastructure sustains more damage.
    Michael Hiltzik, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The answer is that the chlorophyll pigment dominant in green leaves is more efficient at triggering photosynthesis — the process by which plants make the sugar that sustains them — than the pigments dominant in darker leaves.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Jeep also reshaped the wheel arches for better clearance—a nice touch—with carbon flares.
    Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The foyer has a step-up entry from the front door, which feels elegant, and the living room is spacious with lovely touches in every direction — notice the built-ins with the arches that bookend the fireplace.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The aircraft is a variation of the Air Force fighter jet that carries a pilot and weapons system officer.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The aircraft is a variation of the Air Force fighter jet that carries a pilot and a weapons system officer.
    Sam Mednick, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Science is only one of the pillars of Mashpi.
    Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
  • There was a point when Matos and Marco Luciano were considered future pillars of the organization, but both former top prospects have seen their time with the Giants end in recent months.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • If the Supreme Court upholds the order, Cruz said, families are bracing for the possibility that the government could attempt to revisit the citizenship of children born during that interim period—a scenario that would almost certainly prompt further legal challenges.
    Nik Popli, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Luvme exclusively offers three tiers, beginning at 3-star and above, because tiers 1 and 2 fall below the quality and performance standards this brand upholds.
    Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bolsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolsters. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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