Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Thesaurus

mainstay

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of MAINSTAY

something or someone to which one looks for support <Mom has been our mainstay in this crisis>

Synonyms anchor, buttress, mainstay, pillar, reliance, standby

Related Words backbone, sinew(s), spine; right hand; bolsterer, crutch, handmaiden (also handmaid), prop, stay; anchorage, harbor, refuge

Learn More About

Dictionary: Definition of "mainstay"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "mainstay"

Nglish: Translation of "mainstay" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "mainstay" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up mainstay? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated