1
2
as in undergoes
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
sustained serious injuries in the car crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in endures
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I won't sustain such insolence!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supports
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
that old chair won't sustain your weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sustains
Prohibition undermines personal liberty, sends billions in potential revenue to other states, and sustains dangerous black markets instead of replacing them with a safe, regulated system.
—
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Medicaid exists to provide access to health care, not to penalize the unpaid labor that sustains families and communities.
—Emily D. Tisdale, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
This is not snow in Denver or along the Front Range, but mountain snow at higher elevations, the kind that feeds reservoirs and rivers during spring runoff and sustains water supplies into early summer.
—Joe Ruch, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Beyond a mere merger of assets, this union could jeopardize the ancillary market ecosystem that sustains theatrical filmmaking.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Forget about climbing the ladder, Capricorn — 2026 is about building something that truly sustains you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Vision is valuable, but execution sustains teams.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The move can hold so long as ‘rate of change’ sustains.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Medicaid exists to provide access to health care, not to penalize the unpaid labor that sustains families and communities.
—Emily D. Tisdale, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
This is not snow in Denver or along the Front Range, but mountain snow at higher elevations, the kind that feeds reservoirs and rivers during spring runoff and sustains water supplies into early summer.
—Joe Ruch, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Beyond a mere merger of assets, this union could jeopardize the ancillary market ecosystem that sustains theatrical filmmaking.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Forget about climbing the ladder, Capricorn — 2026 is about building something that truly sustains you.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Vision is valuable, but execution sustains teams.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The move can hold so long as ‘rate of change’ sustains.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustains
Verb
-
The Group nurtures a culture built on empowerment, agility, and continuous learning.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The novel nurtures curiosity and empathy.—
Azar Nafisi,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Surveys show trust in the agencies Kennedy leads is falling, rather than rising, as the country’s health landscape undergoes dramatic change.—
Ali Swenson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
-
If a Norwegian baby undergoes a long hospitalization due to complications from RSV, the only thing their parents have to worry about is their sick baby.—
Ariana Hendrix,
STAT,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One gets the sense of a man perpetually drawn to the edge of the unknown, as the boy to the edge of the sea—to questions about our primordial origins, about the etiology and eschatology of our planet, about what erodes and what endures.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
As the eastern United States endures a frigid February, advocates for incarcerated people are bracing for the annual influx of complaints about a lack of heating and warm clothing, problems that can be exacerbated by temporary crises like power outages during a storm.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nexus One now supports job-aware observability, allowing operators to correlate network behavior directly with GPU workloads.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Strategic movement, however, preserves neuromuscular connections, supports healthy blood flow, and helps the body maintain strength and mobility.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Since then, the British government has worked tirelessly to carve out a deal that satisfies Mauritius without losing its defensive foothold.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
There is a profound sadness in the way the ‘good people’ here settle on a version of truth that satisfies their own worldview.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Not everyone experiences passionate love, the results show, but the chances increase with age.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
14 Feb. 2026
-
When our community experiences acts of violence or disruption that threaten public safety, the need for stability, experience, and public trust in the courts becomes even more critical, particularly in a large, high-volume jurisdiction like Mecklenburg County.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This tough shrub tolerates heat, drought, and salt spray, making an ideal addition to coastal gardens.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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Hardy in Zones 3-9, this stunning plant tolerates both partial sun and shade.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unlike most hydroelectric plants, it is not located at the base of the dam, but carries water down about 1,000 feet in elevation to generate more water pressure and electricity.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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While smoking is widely understood to pose health risks, the habit also carries steep financial consequences.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sustains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustains. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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