sustenance
15 synonyms and 2 antonyms for sustenance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Food, drink, or support that keeps a person or thing alive and functioning.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
upkeep
nourishment
aliment
victuals
nutriment
sustainment
alimentation
sustentation
bread and butter
Antonyms
How to use sustenance
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
daily sustenance
provide sustenance
a source of sustenance
Etymology
From Old French sustenance, from sustenir, "to sustain," ultimately from Latin sustinere.
Full origin of sustenance →Frequently asked questions
What does “sustenance” mean?
The word “sustenance” means food, drink, or support that keeps a person or thing alive and functioning. In plain terms, nourishment or support needed to keep living — usually food, but sometimes emotional or financial support.
How do you pronounce “sustenance”?
“Sustenance” is pronounced SUHS-tuh-nuhns (/ˈsʌs.tə.nəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “sustenance” in a sentence?
Here is “sustenance” used in a sentence: “They had little sustenance left after days of hiking.”
What part of speech is “sustenance”?
“Sustenance” is a noun.
Where does the word “sustenance” come from?
The word “sustenance” comes from Latin. From Old French sustenance, from sustenir, "to sustain," ultimately from Latin sustinere.
