1
: a long pillow or cushion
2
: a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing (see bearing sense 5)
Examples of bolster in a Sentence
Verb
She came with me to bolster my confidence.
a convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker's reputation
She is thinking of ways to bolster her career.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
Cue the viridian green of the new Amedeo bed, with its padded structure and fine silk upholstery entirely hand-embroidered with a jungle motif that continues on the bedspread and the bolster pillows, or the deep red of the Pascal armchair with a dragon embroidered on the back.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Lin bolsters this perspective with scenes of Joe posting online about how medication weakens his resolve and becoming obsessed with school shootings.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bolster
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.
Noun
Props can be blankets, pillows, blocks, bolsters, and straps.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
Cue the viridian green of the new Amedeo bed, with its padded structure and fine silk upholstery entirely hand-embroidered with a jungle motif that continues on the bedspread and the bolster pillows, or the deep red of the Pascal armchair with a dragon embroidered on the back.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Bright’s absence aside, the midfield and defence are largely unchanged from the team’s runs to the final in their previous two major tournaments, and the latter has been bolstered by the availability of Leah Williamson, after the England captain missed the World Cup in 2023 with a knee injury.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Lin bolsters this perspective with scenes of Joe posting online about how medication weakens his resolve and becoming obsessed with school shootings.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bolster
Cite this Entry
“Bolster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolster. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bolster
1 of 2 noun
bol·ster
ˈbōl-stər 
1
: a long pillow or cushion
2
: a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share