Buttress — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbə-trəs/ but·tress

Meaning & Definition of Buttress

Buttress (noun)

  1. a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building
  2. something that resembles a buttress
  3. a projecting part of a mountain or hill

Buttress (verb)

  1. to give support or stability to (a wall or building) with a projecting structure of masonry or wood, to furnish or shore up with a buttress; also, support, strengthen

Buttress (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something or someone to which one looks for support

    "the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times"

    similar: anchor, dependence, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby
    related: backbone, sinew(s), spine, right hand, bolsterer, crutch, handmaiden, prop, stay, anchorage, harbor, refuge

  2. a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else

    "after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress"

    similar: brace, mount, mounting, prop, reinforcement, shore, spur, stay, support, underpinning
    related: shoring, column, pedestal, pilaster, pillar, arch, bolster, bracket, cantilever, girder, bearing, crutch, peg, post, stake, stanchion, stand, stilt, strut, truss, base, foundation, frame

Buttress (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold up or serve as a foundation for

    "a brace buttressed the wall"

    similar: bear, bolster, brace, carry, prop (up), shore (up), stay, support, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold
    related: steady, truss, underlie

  2. to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)

    "a mass of circumstantial evidence buttresses the prosecutor's case"

    similar: back, bolster, corroborate, reinforce, shore (up), substantiate, support
    related: confirm, establish, prove, verify, affirm, avouch, validate
    near: undercut, undermine, weaken

Related Entry: Flying buttress (noun)

Flying buttress is a different word from Buttress. The synonyms below are for flying buttress, not for buttress.

  1. as in buttress

    similar: buttress, caryatid, pedestal, needle, obelisk, column, pier, pilaster, pillar, post, stanchion, pile, piling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Buttress

The most common words with a similar meaning to Buttress:

anchor, dependence, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby, brace, mount, mounting, prop, reinforcement, shore, spur, stay, support, underpinning, bear, bolster, carry, prop (up), shore (up), sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold, back, corroborate, reinforce, substantiate

Related Words for Buttress

backbone, sinew(s), spine, right hand, bolsterer, crutch, handmaiden, anchorage, harbor, refuge, shoring, column, pedestal, pilaster, arch, bracket, cantilever, girder, bearing, peg, post, stake, stanchion, stand, stilt, strut, truss, base, foundation, frame

Near Antonyms of Buttress

undercut, undermine, weaken

Word Forms of Buttress

Inflections: buttressed, buttressing, buttresses

Derived words: buttressed (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Buttress

Middle English butres, from Anglo-French (arche) boteraz thrusting (arch), ultimately from buter to thrust butt:3

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Buttress

Words & Phrases Containing Buttress

flying buttress

Frequently Asked Questions about Buttress

What does "Buttress" mean?

"Buttress" means a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Buttress"?

Other words for "Buttress" include anchor, dependence, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby, brace and mount. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Buttress" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Buttress"?

There are 68 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Buttress". Common alternatives include anchor, dependence, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby, brace, mount, mounting and prop.

How do you use "Buttress" in a sentence?

Examples of "Buttress" in a sentence: "the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times"; "after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress"; "a brace buttressed the wall".

Is "Buttress" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Buttress" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Buttress" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Buttress" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Buttress"?

"Buttress" is pronounced /ˈbə-trəs/ and divided into syllables as but·tress.

What is the origin of the word "Buttress"?

"Buttress" comes from Middle English butres, from Anglo-French (arche) boteraz thrusting (arch), ultimately from buter to thrust butt:3. First known use: 14th century.