buttressing
Shoring something up
Buttressing is the act of providing support or reinforcement.
The word comes from architecture, where a buttress is a structure built against a wall to strengthen it.
More often the usage is figurative: buttressing an argument with evidence, buttressing a claim with statistics.
To buttress something is to shore it up, to keep it from collapsing under pressure.
Underlying support structure
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- equilibriumState of balance
- firmnessResistance to deformation
- solidityFirmness of structure
anchorage · load-bearing · counterbalance · bracing · shoring · underpinning · reinforcement · resistance
Moving through air
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- vaultSecure storage chamber
- pierWaterfront landing structure
- wallVertical enclosing structure
masonry · arch · nave · apse · pinnacle · spire · load-bearing · thrust
Strengthen or buttress
- strengthenMake more robust
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- substantiateProve something is true
- corroborateConfirm with supporting evidence
validate · confirm · reinforce · back · uphold · affirm · fortify · undergird
foundation
Underlying support structure
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- equilibriumState of balance
- firmnessResistance to deformation
solidity · anchorage · load-bearing · counterbalance · bracing · shoring · underpinning · reinforcement · resistance · steadiness
flying
Moving through air
wall · masonry · arch · nave · apse · pinnacle · spire · load-bearing · thrust · counterforce
bolster
Strengthen or buttress
- strengthenMake more robust
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- substantiateProve something is true
corroborate · validate · confirm · reinforce · back · uphold · affirm · fortify · undergird · shore up
- fortifyingfortifying, reinforcing, barricading, shoring up, bracing
- Old Craftsmasonry, carpentry, thatching, joinery, timber framing
- reinforcingreinforcing, strengthening, supporting, bolstering, shoring
- building repaircrack repair, foundation repair, repointing, tuckpointing, concrete repair
- constructionconstruction site, building site, hammer, building, beam
buttressingundermining
Weakening by covert means
weakening · destabilizing · collapsing · demolishing · eroding
buttressingundermining
Weakening by covert means
weakening · refuting · contradicting · disproving · undercutting