Bolster can mean a long pillow, or it can mean to supporthelp something stay strong, stable, or effective, strengthenmake something stronger or more effective, or add padding to something. The right synonyma word with a similar meaning to another depends on which sense you mean.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈboʊlstər/
Easy pronunciation: BOHL-ster (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: BOHL-ster.
Verb sense: to support and strengthen.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bolster Meaning
to make something stronger, better, or more effective
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to support and strengthen something
Example: The new funding should bolster morale across the team.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bolster up — A close verb phrase, but less common than bolster alone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Bolster
Meaning 2
a long pillow used for support or decoration on a bed
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a pillow that is often put across a bed underneath the regular pillows
Example: She placed a bolster at the head of the bed.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- long pillow — Matches the noun sense.
Meaning 3
to make something thicker or softer with padding
Part of speech: verb
Definition: add padding to
Example: The seat was bolstered for extra comfort.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- pad — A genuine synonym in this sense.
Meaning 4
to support something physically with a pillow or cushion
Part of speech: verb
Definition: prop up with a pillow or bolster
Example: He bolstered himself against the wall with a cushion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bolster Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bolster up
noun: a long pillow used on a bed
- long pillow
verb: to add padding to something
- pad
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using bolster to mean only a pillow; it is also a verb meaning to support or strengthen.
- Mixing up bolster with other words that mean 'help' in a general way, when the sense is specifically to strengthen or reinforce.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bolster mean?
Bolster can be a noun meaning a long pillow, or a verb meaning to support, strengthen, or pad something.
What is a synonym for bolster?
For the verb meaning “support and strengthen,” a close synonym is bolster up. For the padding sense, pad works well.
Is bolster usually a noun or a verb?
It can be both, but the verb meaning “support and strengthen” is the most common everyday use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.