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

Relevance

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 Both styles merge the brand mainstays with Anderson’s playful use of the straddle strap detail most commonly used on penny loafers. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 Over the years, the event has attracted theater mainstays from Lin-Manuel Miranda to Rachel Zegler. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 His lack of experience in the realms of ballet, classical music, opera, and jazz, formerly the center’s mainstays, have concerned some onlookers. — News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026 These mainstays offer hardworking actors seasonal jobs, but usually don’t allow for any real narrative besides jump scares and chainsaws. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The auto manufacturers who are the commercial mainstays of Formula 1 demand an emphasis on electrification and sustainability. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainstays
  1. anchors
  2. backbones
  3. standbys
  4. pillars
Noun
  • Depending on the route, manufacturers can add protective layers and steel-wire armoring to help the cable withstand demanding conditions, particularly in shallower waters where anchors and fishing equipment pose greater risks.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • The 53-year-old is looking to make a statement, paying homage to hip-hop’s roots and pillars with his next project.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The three pillars of regenerative agriculture Here’s an easy way to picture it.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pillars

Browse Nearby Words

mainstay
mainstays
Main Street
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mainstays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainstays. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All