Bolster
Pillows, confidence, and quarterly numbers all accept the same verb when you need them a little stronger than yesterday.
Learn This WordMeaning
To support, strengthen, or improve something; to make something stronger.
Memory trick
A “bolster” is a cushion that props you up. Bolster (verb) = prop up and strengthen.
Examples
The new data bolstered her argument for expanding the program.
They hired two engineers to bolster the team’s capacity.
Regular backups bolster resilience during outages.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English bolster "pillow, cushion," from Old English bolstor. The verb sense evolved as “to prop up.”
Usage Notes
Great in professional writing: “bolster confidence,” “bolster the case,” “bolster performance.”
Real-life contexts
Use for arguments: "This evidence bolsters our case."
Use for teams: "We should bolster support during the transition."
Use for confidence: "That feedback really bolstered my confidence."
Common Mistakes
Bolster implies strengthening something that already exists; it’s not the same as creating from scratch.
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Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
~96,000
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