buttress

American  

[buh-tris] / ˈbʌ trɪs /

noun

1. any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.

2. any prop or support.

3. a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.

4. a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.

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verb (used with object)

1. to support by a buttress; prop up.

2. to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   reinforce, brace, inspirit, support, hearten, encourage

buttress British  

/ ˈbʌtrɪs /

noun

1. Also called: pier.  a construction, usually of brick or stone, built to support a wall See also flying buttress

2. any support or prop

3. something shaped like a buttress, such as a projection from a mountainside

4. either of the two pointed rear parts of a horse's hoof

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verb

1. to support (a wall) with a buttress

2. to support or sustain

Other Word Forms

• buttressless adjective
• buttresslike adjective
• nonbuttressed adjective
• unbuttressed adjective

Etymology

Origin of buttress

1350–1400; Middle English butres ≪ Old French ( arc ) boterez thrusting (arch) nominative singular of boteret (accusative), equivalent to boter- abutment (perhaps < Germanic; butt ³ ) + -et -et

Explanation

You can buttress an argument with solid facts or your financial portfolio with safe investments. You may find that giving compliments to everyone you meet buttresses your popularity. To buttress is to sustain or reinforce. A buttress is a structure that adds stability to a wall or building, and this innovation played a significant role in the evolution of architecture. Think of a medieval cathedral. It's an incredibly tall, open building filled with light from vast windows. Without buttresses supporting the walls and carrying the weight of the ceiling away from the building and down to the ground, this cathedral would be impossible. Picture this when you use buttress figuratively as a verb meaning to strengthen and support.

Example Sentences

But even when things get shaky, Seyfried is there to buttress the film with a truly inhuman strength.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

F-15Es have long rotated through Jordan and sending additional jets would buttress U.S. air capabilities in several ways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Basically, since getting sworn in to the role, Patel has used a Gulfstream jet owned by the agency to buttress his vacation time.

From Slate • Dec. 18, 2025

There’s nothing like a Fed put to buttress markets, even if doubts exist this whole artificial-intelligence thing is going to work out swimmingly.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 24, 2025

A hundred yards away was a concrete buttress dam, which supplied hydroelectric power to Port-au-Prince.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• reinforce
• strengthen
• uphold