sustenance

noun

ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s How to pronounce sustenance (audio)
Definition of sustenancenext
as in food
something that maintains or stimulates the intellect my only sustenance on the long flight was a trashy novel I'd bought in the airport

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sustenance The cave’s inhabitants also extracted marrow from bones for sustenance, according to the study. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 The method could combat refuse accumulation and provide sustenance in remote or disaster locations — or in space someday. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026 Bovines are a blessing The sentiment comes from the respect people here have for cows, seen for many generations as providers of sustenance and prosperity. — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Flies are tenacious insects constantly in a relentless search for sustenance. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustenance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sustenance
  1. food
  2. nourishment
Noun
  • Returning recommended restaurants Beyond the newcomers, Lang Van held onto its Bib, with Dan Nguyen and Tuyen Tran continuing to turn out Vietnamese food that treats every regular like family.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Rooms are calm, expansive, and built to frame the ever-changing landscape, while the food celebrates local ingredients with a refined, modern twist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of food
Noun
  • Beloved returns as an unquenchable force demanding more and more nourishment and attention from Sethe.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • An oil-in-serum pulls the nourishment of oil into a lighter, serum-style formula.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of nourishment

Browse Nearby Words

sustains
sustenance
sustentation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sustenance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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