as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support
our old standby in times of trouble
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standbys
The oversized blazer Boxy suit jackets have become fashion-industry standbys.
—
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Where The Nun suffered from a complete and utter lack of tension, director Michael Chaves uses some classic horror standbys to build suspense.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Almost always, leadership was divided, with some wanting to move away from old standbys while others argued not to rock the boat.
—Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Where The Nun suffered from a complete and utter lack of tension, director Michael Chaves uses some classic horror standbys to build suspense.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Almost always, leadership was divided, with some wanting to move away from old standbys while others argued not to rock the boat.
—Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standbys
Noun
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In addition to Western guests, CGTN also uses Western news anchors and correspondents, giving the network an even more legitimate appearance.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Since its premiere in November 2019, the thrilling Apple TV+ original series has starred Jennifer Aniston as Alex Levy and Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson, two news anchors at the fictional UBA television network.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They’ve been fixtures on tour for years, and mainstays in the medal rounds for much of it.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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She will be joined at the San Diego Music Hall of Fame ceremony by the dormant band’s other mainstays — Irene Liberatore, Sue Delguidice, Joyce Rooks and Cindy Brisco.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Platform product management is rarely treated as a strategic, first-class discipline, resulting in fragmented backbones that fail to support enterprise-wide innovation.—
Gaurav Dixit,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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By trading in metal backbones for a soft familiar-feeling vest, the wearable robot offers a more cost-effective and approachable solution for the millions of individuals worldwide who could possibly benefit from moderate limb support.—
Mack DeGeurin Aug 21,
Popular Science,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Harried enjoyed a colorful green and purple display with vast pillars reaching high into the sky, as well as a subtle green glow as activity began to wane.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Through repetition, employees learn that the vision stays constant—only the tactics for achieving these pillars change.—
Charles Towers-Clark,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standbys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standbys. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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