shore (up)

Definition of shore (up)next
1
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for a highway tunnel shored up by massive columns of concrete

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) used an avalanche of statistics to shore up his claim that the state's economy is in fine shape

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shore (up)
Verb
  • Wembanyama sustained the concussion in the first half of Tuesday’s 106-103 loss to the Blazers in San Antonio and did not return to the game.
    Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
  • In the absence of federal leadership, sustaining impactful state programs are now more critical than ever.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That grip is reinforced by a litany of electronic nannies, all of which translate to an assuring sense of control and eagerness to discover more of the Valhalla’s powerfully balletic nature.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The measures were reinforced over the past 24 hours on the city’s outskirts with additional forces stationed along key airport access routes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That projection is based on the player’s performance in each metric over the last three seasons (five for goalies), weighted for recency where more recent seasons carry more significance and regressed to the mean.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The Moon amplifies Jupiter, helping your words land clearly and carry weight.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Vikings could target him as an undrafted signing to bolster a defensive backs group that should look far different when the draft concludes.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This premise, bolstered by excellent performances all around, could easily have sustained a totally enjoyable TV show.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Your browser does not support the video tag.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Zendaya − Holland's fiancée (or perhaps wife, if her longtime stylist Law Roach is to be believed) − also stopped by to support, in a stunning blue-and-white sundress.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
    Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • Maybe the bright lights of a win-or-go-home playoff game proved too big of a moment for a young, inexperienced Hawks team.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Ruff changed goalies, made a few lineup tweaks and otherwise stayed calm.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • People stayed locked in bathroom stalls.
    Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shore (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shore%20%28up%29. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster