| Main Entry: | bolster |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | help |
Synonyms: |
aid, assist, bear up, boost, brace, buck up, bulwark, buoy, buttress, carry, cushion, help, hold up, maintain, pick up, pillow, prop, reinforce, shore up, stay, strengthen, support, sustain, uphold |
Antonyms: |
hinder, not support, obstruct, prevent, undermine |
| Main Entry: | advocate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | support idea or cause publicly |
Synonyms: |
advance, advise, argue for, back, be in corner, bless, bolster, boost*, brace up, build up, campaign for, champion, countenance, defend, encourage, favor, further, get on bandwagon, give a leg up, give a lift, go for, go to bat for, go with, hold with, justify, plead for, plug*, plump for, press for, promote, propose, push, recommend, ride shotgun for, root for, run interference for, say so, side, speak for, spread around, stump for, support, tout, uphold, urge, vindicate |
Antonyms: |
assail, attack, criticize, impugn, oppose, protest |
| Main Entry: | beam |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | length of material used as support |
Synonyms: |
axle, bail, balk, bolster, boom, brace, cantilever, column, crossbar, crosspiece, girder, jamb, joist, lath, lintel, pile, piling, pillar, plank, pole, post, prop, rafter, reach, scaffolding, scantling, shaft, sill, spar, stanchion, stay, stringer, strip, strut, stud, timber, transverse, trestle, two-by-four |
| Notes: | ray is distinguished from beam in that it describes a smaller quantity of light (beam being a collection of parallel rays) |
| Main Entry: | brace |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | support |
Synonyms: |
arm, band, bar, bearing, block, bolster, boom, bracer, bracket, buttress, cantilever, clamp, girder, grip, guy, lever, mainstay, peg, prop, rafter, reinforcement, rib, shore, skid, splice, splint, staff, stanchion, stave, stay, stirrup, strengthener, strut, sustainer, truss, underpinning, vice |
| Main Entry: | brace |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | support |
Synonyms: |
bandage, bind, bolster, buttress, fasten, fortify, gird, hold up, prepare, prop, ready, reinforce, shove, steady, steel, strap, strengthen, support, tie, tighten, uphold |
Antonyms: |
let go, loosen, unfasten |
| Main Entry: | buoy (up) |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make light, encourage |
Synonyms: |
bolster, boost, buck up, cheer, cheer up, encourage, hearten, keep afloat, lift, prop, raise, support, sustain, uphold |
Antonyms: |
bring down, depress |
| Main Entry: | comfort |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make to feel better |
Synonyms: |
abate, aid, allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assist, assuage, bolster, buck up, calm, cheer, commiserate with, compose, condole, confirm, console, delight, divert, ease, encourage, enliven, free, gladden, grant respite, hearten, help, inspirit, invigorate, lighten burden, make well, mitigate, nourish, put at ease, quiet fears, reanimate, reassure, refresh, relieve, remedy, revitalize, revive, salve, soften, solace, soothe, strengthen, stroke, succor, support, sustain, sympathize, uphold, upraise |
Antonyms: |
aggravate, annoy, bother, distress, exasperate, hurt, irritate, provoke, torment, torture, trouble, vex |
| Main Entry: | cultivate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | enrich situation; give special attention |
Synonyms: |
advance, ameliorate, better, bolster, bring on, brownnose, butter up, cherish, civilize, court, develop, discipline, elevate, encourage, enrich, foster, further, get in with, get next to, get on good side of, improve, nourish, nurse, nurture, play up to, polish, promote, refine, run after, seek friendship, shine up to, suck up to, take pains with, train |
Antonyms: |
ignore, neglect |
| Main Entry: | cushion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | pillow, pad |
Synonyms: |
beanbag, bolster, buffer, bumper, fender, hassock, headrest, mat, rest, seat, sham, squab, woolsack |
| Main Entry: | cushion |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | pad, protect from blow |
Synonyms: |
bolster, buttress, cradle, dampen, deaden, insulate, muffle, pillow, seclude, soften, stifle, support, suppress |