Synonyms for mainstay

Most common

keystone · linchpin

All synonyms

Noun

Definitions

1. n. 1

   A chief support.

   Agriculture is the mainstay of this country’s economy.

Forms

Plural

mainstays → linchpins, anchors, keystones, pillars…

Example sentences

• keystone Sex appeal is the keystone of our civilization.
• linchpin The army is the linchpin of North Korean dictatorship.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

6 letters

anchor², pillar²

8 letters

keystone², linchpin²

10 letters

dependence³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (anchor² = 2 syllables).