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sustenance

sustenance
Noun

This term evokes a sense of essential survival and the minimum requirements needed to keep a system or organism functioning. While it often refers to physical food, it carries a weight of necessity and endurance rather than pleasure or luxury.

In a non-physical sense, it describes the vital support that prevents a concept, a legal ruling, or a community from collapsing. It is an uncountable noun, meaning it does not have a plural form and requires phrases like "a source of" or "a means of" when referring to specific types of support.

Meanings

Nounsustenance

Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.

The refugees relied on the UN for basic sustenance.

Nounsustenance

The maintaining of someone or something in life or existence.

The small village lacked the economic sustenance needed to survive the winter.

Examples

They need basic sustenance.

Water is vital sustenance.

Food provides sustenance.

He searched for sustenance in the woods.

The hikers carried enough sustenance for a week.

She found little sustenance in the dry land.

The elves gathered magical berries for sustenance.

Fantasy

Proper nutrition is the best sustenance for health.

Health

The travelers sought sustenance at a local inn.

Travel

The empire lacked the economic sustenance to expand.

History

Faith provided the only spiritual sustenance during the war.

History

The company failed due to a lack of financial sustenance.

Business

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Last Updated: May 2026Report an Error