mainstays

noun

plural of mainstay
as in anchors
something or someone to which one looks for support Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 mainstays French Quarter mainstays include a mix of dive bars and craft cocktail lounges with a centralized location that draws both residents and visitors alike. — Kristin Braswell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 Hamaguchi told Deadline that the team painstakingly cemented Vincent and Yuffie into irrevocable mainstays while also giving Zack (not available in my preview) an increasingly important role in the trilogy’s larger time-boggling mystery. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 Larry Izzo, Matthew Slater and Nate Ebner were among the mainstays, rarely playing on offense or defense. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Sports are in the midst of a global makeover from narrow manifestations of tribal interest to mainstays of the monoculture. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026 The property partners with neighborhood favorites to offer premium lifestyle perks, including complimentary guest passes to the nearby Brooklyn Athletic Club, and exclusive discounts at local mainstays like SoulCycle and COS Williamsburg. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026 More than 5,600 Hollywood mainstays have now signed an open letter organized by the #BlockTheMerger coalition opposing the deal between the two legacy studios. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 The Eagles were pleasant mainstays of these channels, slipping right in alongside the bands that had inspired them and reminding listeners of a time that was slipping away. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026 Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens’ entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainstays
  1. anchors
  2. backbones
  3. standbys
  4. pillars
Noun
  • Rising in hexagonal or octagonal forms amidst low-rise dwellings, these pagodas stand as emotional anchors of hometown memory.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Along with the Vancouver Art Gallery (a former court house) and the nearby Hotel Georgia, the Hotel Vancouver is one of the three anchors that determined how downtown Vancouver was built, and how the neighborhood behaves today.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of anchors
Noun
  • The structural backbones of the phalanges are 3D-printed from PLA, while soft silicone interfaces provide friction and compliance when the fingers contact a branch.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • More specifically, insects are invertebrates (animals without backbones) and are part of the arthropod phylum, which also includes spiders, crabs, and centipedes.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of backbones
Noun
  • Formulas packed with oils, butters, and skin-care standbys like hyaluronic acid are always helpful.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But anyone returning to their old lunchtime standbys is likely to find a different kind of restaurant waiting for them — one that seemingly highlights everything on the menu except traditional salads.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of standbys
Noun
  • For generations, American streets and parks showcased the tall, stately pillars of rows and rows of elm trees.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The pillars behind the desk are replicas of the actual architecture of the Ed Sullivan Theatre.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of pillars

Browse Nearby Words

mainstay
mainstays
Main Street
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Cite this Entry

“Mainstays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainstays. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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