Definition of pillarnext
1
as in pilaster
an upright shaft that supports an overhead structure the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pillar Yang has described the goal as building DRX into a digital entertainment company that keeps esports as one pillar among several, with Southeast Asia named as a priority region for that growth – a strategy the Jakarta signing puts into practice. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Five pillars of a new team in place with three weeks to spare. Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 With these pillars in place, those who have often been overlooked can achieve meaningful and lasting growth in their well-being. Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Everyone always talks about faith, family and football — those are the three pillars. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pillar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillar
Noun
  • The small saints on side pilasters were sold off on the antiques market.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Even now, its fins and pilasters adorn plenty of new construction, and in real-estate-speak, the phrase is code for high class.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • Privacy seekers can cast their anchor further afield at Coral Caye, Turtle Inn’s private island that’s a 20-minute boat ride away, with wooden cottages and a brimming reef.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Creating space for contrary evidence before authority anchors the room can widen what the group considers.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Waiting for them across the way were dozens of Ford pickup trucks lined up in columns to take them into town.
    Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Bo Bardi lifted the building off the ground and suspended its large open gallery from two bright-red beams resting on four oversize columns.
    Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The tablet combines bictegravir, the backbone of Gilead’s blockbuster HIV pill Biktarvy, with lenacapavir, a first-in-class capsid inhibitor that has become a centerpiece of the company’s long-term strategy for HIV treatment and prevention.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Combine drought with fire and the backbone of the Everglades — its marshy peat soil — also becomes more vulnerable.
    Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pillar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillar. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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