bolster
1 of 2noun
bol·ster ˈbōl-stər 
1
: a long pillow or cushion
2
: a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing (see bearing sense 5)
bolster
2 of 2verb
bolstered; bolstering ˈbōl-st(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
: to support with or as if with a bolster : reinforce
lay bolstered up in bed
extra men will bolster already augmented dock details
Stanley Levey
Stanley Levey2
: to give a boost to
news that bolstered his spirits
bolsterer
ˈbōl-stər-ər
noun 
Synonyms
Verb
- bear
- brace
- buttress
- carry
- prop (up)
- shore (up)
- stay
- support
- sustain
- undergird
- underpin
- uphold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She came with me to bolster my confidence. a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker's reputation She is thinking of ways to bolster her career.
Recent Examples on the Web Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 13 July 2022 The bolster, or how and where the blade flows into the handle, is another point of differentiation. Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022 But the interior looks to be in very reasonable shape for a nearly 20-year-old car, although the black leather seats features quite a bit of cracking and even one tear in the driver's-seat bolster. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 28 June 2022 The Casper dog bed includes a memory foam mattress, four cushions to create a bolster around the sides, and a protective, washable cover that's easily zipped on and off. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 9 May 2022 The company expects to leverage the influx of cash to grow its platform and bolster Landing Pad, a cloud where users can access 3D design work anytime, anywhere. Nicole Gull Mcelroy, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2022 The funds will support state and local fair housing enforcement organizations and bolster education, outreach, and training on rights and responsibilities under federal fair housing laws. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 25 Apr. 2022 Blue notes and a bolster pillow encased in a tribal-pattern fabric from S. Harris dial up the energy in one space while soft greens and organic elements give the second room relaxed attitude. Sally Finder Weepie, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2022 The bolster gives your pet a place to rest their head. Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2022 To bolster the offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid Thursday for Ukraine, including more of the weaponry that has helped its troops seize the momentum. Vasilisa Stepanenko, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2022 To bolster the offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid Thursday for Ukraine, including more of the weaponry that has helped its troops seize the momentum. Vasilisa Stepanenko, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2022 New Delhi’s largely neutral stance on Ukraine has likely dampened some enthusiasm in parts of Western countries to bolster closer ties with India. Tripti Lahiri, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Yet millions of families across the socioeconomic spectrum are too stressed, stretched, and unsupported to provide the optimal language nutrition to bolster future reading. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Last season was a mess, but in the preceding offseason, the Jazz didn’t exactly make proper moves to address their problems, to bolster the team’s chances for more success, to improve belief. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 To bolster coverage of the themes that matter most to our audiences, several reporters will transfer into and out of Business over the coming weeks. Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Now programs open in 2022 after the first full offseason in years, with plenty of excellent matchups across the state as teams look to build their resume to bolster their power rankings in the new statewide format. Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Noun
And its sloped bolster will give you the perfect pinch grip for better comfort and control. Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 13 July 2022 The bolster, or how and where the blade flows into the handle, is another point of differentiation. Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 8 July 2022 But the interior looks to be in very reasonable shape for a nearly 20-year-old car, although the black leather seats features quite a bit of cracking and even one tear in the driver's-seat bolster. Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 28 June 2022 The Casper dog bed includes a memory foam mattress, four cushions to create a bolster around the sides, and a protective, washable cover that's easily zipped on and off. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 9 May 2022 The company expects to leverage the influx of cash to grow its platform and bolster Landing Pad, a cloud where users can access 3D design work anytime, anywhere. Nicole Gull Mcelroy, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2022 The funds will support state and local fair housing enforcement organizations and bolster education, outreach, and training on rights and responsibilities under federal fair housing laws. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 25 Apr. 2022 Blue notes and a bolster pillow encased in a tribal-pattern fabric from S. Harris dial up the energy in one space while soft greens and organic elements give the second room relaxed attitude. Sally Finder Weepie, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2022 The bolster gives your pet a place to rest their head. Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Verb
To bolster the Ukrainian offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid. Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2022 To bolster the offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid Thursday for Ukraine, including more of the weaponry that has helped its troops seize the momentum. Vasilisa Stepanenko, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2022 To bolster the offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid Thursday for Ukraine, including more of the weaponry that has helped its troops seize the momentum. Vasilisa Stepanenko, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2022 New Delhi’s largely neutral stance on Ukraine has likely dampened some enthusiasm in parts of Western countries to bolster closer ties with India. Tripti Lahiri, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Yet millions of families across the socioeconomic spectrum are too stressed, stretched, and unsupported to provide the optimal language nutrition to bolster future reading. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Last season was a mess, but in the preceding offseason, the Jazz didn’t exactly make proper moves to address their problems, to bolster the team’s chances for more success, to improve belief. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 To bolster coverage of the themes that matter most to our audiences, several reporters will transfer into and out of Business over the coming weeks. Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Now programs open in 2022 after the first full offseason in years, with plenty of excellent matchups across the state as teams look to build their resume to bolster their power rankings in the new statewide format. Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English belg bag — more at belly
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
bolster 1 of 2
noun
bol·ster ˈbōl-stər
: a long pillow or cushion sometimes used to support bed pillows
bolster
2 of 2verb
bolstered; bolstering
: to support with or as if with a bolster
We tried to bolster their courage.
Legal Definition
bolster
transitive verb
bol·ster
ˈbōl-stər
: to use evidence usually improperly to give weight to (evidence already introduced)
bolsterers
noun
as in right hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- right hands
- stays
- props
- handmaidens
- crutches
- handmaids
- refuges
- anchorages
- spines
- harbors
- sinews
- backbones
- dependances
- anchors
- pillars
- mainstays
- buttresses
- standbys
- reliances
- dependences