as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support
Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 mainstay
Center Anton Lundell Lundell has been a mainstay in the Panthers’ lineup since being selected 12th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
The record has been a mainstay on bestseller lists for years, and somehow, even after countless reissues and decades of consistent sales, fans are still snapping it up in droves.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
The ornate design will look great will all your suitcase mainstays, plus shoppers have their choice of seven springy shades, from red to sage green.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
For the recession-proof among us, this co-op is located near local mainstays like Henry Public and Long Island Bar.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2025
The record has been a mainstay on bestseller lists for years, and somehow, even after countless reissues and decades of consistent sales, fans are still snapping it up in droves.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
The ornate design will look great will all your suitcase mainstays, plus shoppers have their choice of seven springy shades, from red to sage green.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
For the recession-proof among us, this co-op is located near local mainstays like Henry Public and Long Island Bar.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainstay
Noun
-
Most recently a reporter with CBS News Detroit, Andres brings more than a decade of award-winning breaking news reporting and fill-in anchor experience across several markets including Kansas City, Missouri and Dallas, Texas.—
Andres Gutierrez,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Florida’s anchor senior Riley McCusker, posted a 9.8625 and the final scores were in.—
Henry Chappell,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Through much of the 20th century, California’s salmon fishery formed the economic backbone of coastal fishing ports, with fishers using hook and line pulling in millions of pounds in good years.—
Alastair Bland | CalMatters,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Anger and animosity are why fans clamor for the addition of short tracks on the schedule, and the backbone to why Bristol was once one of the hottest tickets in sports with a streak of selling out 55 consecutive races.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Those pillars don’t change, but AI will influence how they are built.—
Hunter McMahon,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), a pillar of cold gas and dust 9.5 light-years tall is unfurling along the length of the new image.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles from several agencies were at the scene, including an ambulance on standby, the outlet reported.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The government paid a lower rate of $18 million per month to keep it on standby, compared to $55 million per month if the facility had been full, people familiar with the contract said.—
David A. Fahrenthold,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mainstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainstay. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share