1
as in pilasters
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure
the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support
my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis
Synonyms & Similar 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 pillars
Joining me to discuss rising production costs, shifts in viewing preferences, and the demise of one of the pillars of late night television is USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler.
—
Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 May 2026
The library is a one-story brick building with two white pillars up front sticking out like tusks, smooth and thin.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
The war has dented these pillars.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
The plates and pillars are then connected via the device that will be powered (a load).
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Europe has chosen a framework built on three mutually reinforcing pillars.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
For instance, some manufacturers have voluntarily strengthened the A-pillars on either side of the windshield and installed roll bars to provide additional protection in rollover crashes.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Enterprise networking, data center switching, security appliances, and collaboration tools like Webex became the core pillars of its business.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Alongside schools and transportation, public safety is one of the foundational pillars of a strong and growing county.
—Nick Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 May 2026
The library is a one-story brick building with two white pillars up front sticking out like tusks, smooth and thin.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
The war has dented these pillars.
—Daniel Benaim, Time, 18 May 2026
The plates and pillars are then connected via the device that will be powered (a load).
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Europe has chosen a framework built on three mutually reinforcing pillars.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
For instance, some manufacturers have voluntarily strengthened the A-pillars on either side of the windshield and installed roll bars to provide additional protection in rollover crashes.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Enterprise networking, data center switching, security appliances, and collaboration tools like Webex became the core pillars of its business.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Alongside schools and transportation, public safety is one of the foundational pillars of a strong and growing county.
—Nick Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillars
Noun
-
In the end, Laffrey, whose Broadway credits include Maybe Happy Ending and Parade, settled for using an iPhone app to record the size of pilasters and mullioned mirrors.—
Carey Purcell,
Architectural Digest,
27 Oct. 2025
-
With pilasters, a limestone facade, and classic symmetrical design, the three-story building exemplifies the Beaux-Arts style popular at the turn of the 20th century, grand but not ostentatious.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For the Kansas test, researchers cut around 40% of the house’s anchors to the ground and hit it again, first with 110 mph, and finally 130 mph.—
Alexandra Phelps,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
Alumnae have become actors, anchors, authors and more.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Students at the University of Missouri in Columbia took the fad to record-setting new heights on March 5, 1974, when 600 or so naked folks ran past the historic columns on campus while a crowd of about 1,500 people cheered them on.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
Second of two columns on transformation in defense technology and manufacturing.—
David Ignatius,
Washington Post,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
As songwriters, the Ottavianos usually only needed a metaphor, a single beautiful image, or a fun double entendre to serve as narrative backbones.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
26 Apr. 2026
-
There's also a perception that squishy invertebrates — creatures without backbones — weren't formidable enough to join the ranks of top predators.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pillars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillars. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
